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ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP SHOWCASE

The Engaged Scholarship Showcase features presentations from community-engaged students, faculty, and staff members. They discuss the role of the 4 Rs – Research, Reciprocity, Research, and Resilience – in their work, and how they have grown and developed as engaged scholars over the year.

2024 PARENT TEACHER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

The Parent Teacher Leadership Academy (PTLA) celebrated the graduation of its 2023-2024 class April 11 at the Tuscaloosa River Market. Parents and teachers from 35 schools joined the celebration.

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Girl presenting flyer to other students

STUDENT TO SCHOLAR

At The University of Alabama, we define the scholarship of engagement as a partnership that joins together the specialized knowledge of the campus with the practical knowledge of the public to solve critical problems of interest to both. Learn more about the student group, SCOPE, Scholars for Outreach, Partnership, and Engagement.

CIVIC LEARNING LAB

The Lab is a collaborative, project-based learning environment where team members develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of civic learning and democratic engagement. 

Crimson White Newspaper with an article relating to the Civic Lab

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BOARD OF ADVISORS

Formed in early 2016, the Community Affairs Board of Advisors is comprised of young alumni who possess a commitment to community engagement and student success. 



Center for Community-Based Partnerships (CCBP)

The Center’s vision is of a University whose resources and strengths are made available through partnerships in communities throughout the state, nation and world to help solve society’s critical problems.

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Council on Community-Based Partnerships

The Council connects faculty, staff, students and community partners in research-based projects designed to solve critical problems identified collaboratively by community members and the University.

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Community Collaborations

Community collaborations bring together different parts of the community in ways that are beneficial to both the community and the University.

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Crossroads Civic Engagement Center

The Crossroads Civic Engagement Center develops the civic capacity of campus and community members in ways that foster a thriving democratic society at the Capstone and beyond.

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Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship

The Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship (JCES) is a peer-reviewed international journal through which faculty, staff, students, and community partners disseminate scholarly works.

Publications of JCES
Headshot of Dr. Pruitt wearing a blue pinstripe suit and a green bowtie

A Message from the Vice President

This message is intended for our friends and partners both on and off campus. We hope you will visit the site often, for it is our most important communication tool in our dual role as UA’s leader in engaged scholarship and intercultural relations.

While the terms “scholarship of engagement” or “engaged scholarship” — the terms are interchangeable — have been around for years, they may not be familiar to everyone. They were first used by Ernest Boyer in a 1996 article published in the Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement as Boyer sought nothing less than to redefine the role of higher education. He advocated a move away from scholarship as the “application of academic expertise” to a scholarship that creates partnerships between higher education institutions and communities. He further argued that engaged scholarship integrates the often-conflicting faculty roles of teaching, research and service, seeing them instead as different aspects of a common purpose. Since Boyer, engaged scholarship has come to mean collaboration between knowledge professionals on campuses and the lay public for mutual benefit.