Center for Community Partnerships

Course Development Grants: March 31

The Center for Community Partnerships announces course development grants to promote academically-based community service, learning and research. Academically-based community service (ABCS) is at the core of the Center's work. Rooted in and intrinsically linked to teaching and/or research, ABCs encompasses problem-oriented research and teaching, as well as service learning. The grants support University faculty to develop new courses that combine research with cooperative community projects.

Proposals should be submitted by faculty to one of the four programs listed below. Courses should be new or substantially restructured and could be undergraduate, graduate or mixed undergraduate and graduate. The proposal format and deadline is identical for all programs.

A specific proposal can be submitted to only one program, but faculty may submit more than one proposal. Grants will be for no more than $3,000 per project. These funds can be used to provide graduate and undergraduate support, course support and/or summer salary ($3,000 is inclusive of E.B. if taken as salary).

The programs are:

Access Science: Math, Science and Technology Partnerships
Program in Universities, Communities of Faith, Schools and
Neighborhoods (PUCFSN)
Community Arts Partnership (CAP)
Center for Community Partnerships Course Development Program

Access Science: Math, Science and Technology Partnerships:

This program, funded by the National Science Foundation, engages math, science and engineering undergraduate and graduate students in developing and implementing hands on and inquiry-based math and science in West Philadelphia classrooms.

Dennis DeTurck, Principal Investigator,
Davidson Kennedy Professor of Mathematics
Christine Massey, PENNLincs and Institute for Research on Cognitive Science
Cory Bowman, Center for Community Partnerships

Program in Universities, Communities of Faith, Schools and Neighborhoods (PUCFSN):

The Program in Universities, Communities of Faith, Schools and Neighborhoods, supported by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, brings the Penn community into dialogue with religious leaders of all faiths in West Philadelphia together with the leaders of West Philadelphia schools and neighborhood organizations. Through this dialogue, program leaders seek to break down long-standing barriers and create jointly determined and mutually beneficial action-oriented partnerships that address community needs. Other activities include the development of new Penn courses that will engage Penn faculty and students with communities of faith and the overall work of the Program.

Ann Matter, Chair of PUCFSN Faculty Committee, Religious Studies Chair
William Gipson, Chaplain of the University, Co-Principal Investigator
Ira Harkavy, Director, Center for Community Partnerships, CO-Principal Investigator

Community Arts Partnership (CAP):

Funded by the William Penn Foundation, the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) advances academically-based community service by Penn humanities faculty and students in collaboration with West Philadelphia community-based organizations and community artists to create and expand community arts programs at West Philadelphia public schools and in the community.

Ralph Rosen, Chair of CAP Faculty Committee, Classics Department
Ira Harkavy, Principal Investigator, Director, Center for Community Partnerships

Center for Community Partnerships Course Development Program:

Funded by the Center for Community Partnerships, this program will allow faculty to develop new and substantially restructured undergraduate and graduate level courses that engage students in real world problem solving projects in conjunction with schools and community organizations located in West Philadelphia.

Francis E. Johnston, Co-Chair of Center for Community Partnerships Faculty Advisory Committee
Albert J. Stunkard, CO-Chair of Center for Community Partnerships Faculty Advisory Committee
Ira Harkavy, Director, Center for Community Partnerships

* * * *

The criteria and format for submitting proposals to all four of the above programs are:

Criteria:

1. Academic excellence

2. Integration of research, teaching and service

3. Partnership with schools, community groups, service agencies, etc.

4. Focus on Philadelphia, especially West Philadelphia

5. Evidence as to how the course activity will involve participation or interaction with the community as well as contribute to improving the community

6. Evidence as to how the course activity will engage undergraduates in research opportunities

7. Potential for sustainability

Format:

1. Cover Page

1.1 Name, title, department, school, mailing address

1.2 Title of the proposal

1.3 Amount requested

1.4 Specific program to which you are applying

1.5 100-word abstract of the proposal (include a description of how the course will involve interaction with the community and benefit the community)

2. A one-page biographical sketch of applicant

3. A two-to four-page mini-proposal

4. Amount of the request and budget

An original and five copies of the proposal should be submitted to the Center for Community Partnerships, 133 S. 36th Street, Suite 519, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3246. The due date for all programs is March 31, 2003 by 5 p.m.

--Richard Beeman, Dean of the College,
CO-Chair, Faculty Advisory Committee, Center for Community Partnerships

--Francis E. Johnston, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology,
CO-Chair, Faculty Advisory Committee, Center for Community Partnerships

--Albert J. Stunkard, Professor of Psychiatry,
CO-Chair, Faculty Advisory Committee, Center for Community Partnerships

--Ira Harkavy, Associate Vice President and Director,
Center for Community Partnerships