The following definition is from the Carnegie Foundation.
Community engagement describes collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.
For more information about Community Engaged Research please check out Campus Compact’s Community-Engaged Research Knowledge Hub.
To learn more about how, and why, higher education institutions are solidifying community engagement as a key part of their mission, check out the Chronicle Report: College as a Public Good.
We know that this is just a partial list of all the community engaged scholarship that is taking place at Brandeis. Please be in touch if you would like your research to be included!
Yes! Brandeis offers multiple avenues for funding your research, as well as help finding external funding sources.
Faculty in the Creative Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, please reach out to Judy Appel for more information.
For funding opportunities and partnerships with private organizations, see the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations.
For faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows:
For graduate students:
For undergraduate students:
This depends on the purpose and nature of the research and whether or not you intend for your research to be shared outside of your community partner organization. It’s always safest to reach out to our Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) staff for guidance. For more information, please see IRB FAQs.
External Academic Journals:
(List inspired by Bentley University’s Service Learning and Community Engagement Center)
Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship
Journal of Cooperative Education and Internships
Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement
Metropolitan Universities Journal
Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning
Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
Yes! Brandeis University has vans available for students, faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows to reserve for authorized student club purposes, community service, academic trips and projects, and administrative purposes. Vans can accommodate 7-13 passengers and drivers must be van certified.
Van reservation forms are processed between Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Vans must be reserved at least 48 hours (business days) in advance. Questions about van reservations? Please contact Sammy Ghansah.
For more information regarding the university’s insurance coverage, please see Insurance and Risk Management's policies.
Yes! If the university is sponsoring or organizing an event or activity for Brandeis or non Brandeis community members, a waiver should be considered.
Consider sharing your project through COMPACT Story Lab!
The Brandeis Library is a great space on campus to support your community engagement goals.
The Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaboration has many resources for students and faculty preparing to conduct community-engaged research!
Are you interested in volunteering around your local Waltham community? See the Department of Student Engagement’s page for information on volunteering opportunities such as the:
Campus Compact offers a multitude of resources for faculty, staff, and students interested in delving deeper into community engagement. Thanks to Brandeis’s membership, all resources and events are free to Brandeis faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and students!