Call for Proposals

Note: The proposal submission deadline has passed.

The Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC) is pleased to announce that our 2021 annual meeting will explore the theme of “Creating Connections and Expanding Possibilities” through an inclusive and engaging virtual conference. Recognizing the diverse disciplinary, professional, institutional, and geographic contexts represented in the ESC, we seek proposals that consider and respect our need for genuine connection during times of crisis. Special priority will be given to proposals that examine reconnection, the creation of new connections, and the potential of shared futures in engaged scholarship, as well as proposals on the topics of engagement for equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

Proposal Information

Proposals are sought for panels, presentations, posters, and workshops. Due to our virtual format, we encourage engaging and interactive proposals. Successful proposals will advance discourse about engaged scholarship and evidence-based practice by communicating research findings, program designs and impacts, lessons learned, and curricular and policy development reflective of diverse contexts, partnerships, populations, and institutions. 

Projects that speak to student gains, student success, and students as engaged learners — at the graduate or undergraduate level — are encouraged. As well, projects that speak to community gains, community success, and community partners as engaged learners, educators, or scholars are highly encouraged. The virtual format opens exciting new possibilities for active involvement of students and community partners as co-presenters. 

Proposals may address, but are not limited to, engaged scholarship, pedagogy, or practice in local or global contexts, for example, community-based research; urban/rural interactions; international contexts; business and industry engagement; remote delivery; underserved populations; cooperative extension; service-learning; continuing education; and university-wide outreach and engagement programs.

Special Note about Proposals Submitted in 2020

The Program Committee will contact 2020 proposal authors via email to determine their preferences related to the 2021 conference. Authors may choose to: 1) submit the 2020 proposal for 2021 review, 2) modify the 2020 proposal prior to review, or 3) withdraw the 2020 proposal and submit a new proposal for 2021.

Presentation Tracks

Proposals are invited for presentation in seven flexible tracks:

  • Assessment of Engagement
  • Methods for Engagement
  • Collaborative Engagement
  • Technologies of Engagement
  • Leadership and Engagement
  • NEW: Engagement in a Time of Crisis
  • NEW: Engagement for Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism

Presentation Formats

Proposals may be submitted in any of the following formats:

  • Workshops
    Workshops are designed to exchange information about a particular body of knowledge, evidence-based practice, engaged teaching technique, assessment or research instrument, or methodology. A workshop should include a small number of presenters and the emphasis should be on disseminating specific knowledge. Active discussion between audience and presenters should take place throughout the session. Workshops will be scheduled for 60 minutes, composed of 40 minutes of presentation and 20 minutes of questions and answers. The intention is to produce discussion that results in an outcome, especially with actionable recommendations for practice. One proposal should be submitted for each workshop and should include contact information for all members of the proposed workshop. 
  • Panels
    Like workshops, panels are designed to exchange information about a particular body of knowledge, evidence-based practice, engaged teaching technique, assessment or research instrument, or methodology. Panels include a target of three or four panelists and feature active debate about a topic or present various perspectives about a topic. Panels will be scheduled for 60 minutes, composed of 40 minutes of active panel discussion and 20 minutes of interactive questions and answers. One proposal should be submitted for each panel and should include contact information for all members of the proposed panel.
  • Symposium Presentations
    In a symposium, presenters each present on a related topic (e.g., a research finding, high-impact practice, policy issue, etc.). Successful symposia include presentations that represent diverse disciplinary, professional, institutional, and geographic backgrounds. Symposia include a target of three presentations. Because symposia are scheduled for 60 minutes total, each presenter is allotted 20 minutes, at least 5 minutes of which is recommended to involve active discussion with members of the audience. One proposal should be submitted for each presentation and should include contact information for co-presenters on the proposed presentation.
  • Posters
    Posters are best suited to reporting results of research studies and evaluations as well as the presentation of translational, educational, service-learning, clinical, or other programs of engaged scholarship or evidence-based practice. Posters will be displayed continuously during an open viewing period. Also, to encourage networking and discussion of the displayed work, at least one author is expected to be present at the poster during a formal session. One proposal should be submitted for each poster and should include contact information for co-presenters on the proposed poster.
    * Please note that a separate call for undergraduate student poster proposals is forthcoming.

Proposal Submission Requirements

  • Title (10-word maximum)
  • Presentation format (workshop, symposium, panel, or poster)
  • Abstract for conference program (50-word maximum)
  • Presentation description and approach to making the presentation, to the extent possible, engaging and interactive (250-word maximum)
  • Presentation track:
    • Assessment of Engagement
    • Methods for Engagement
    • Collaborative Engagement
    • Technologies of Engagement
    • Leadership and Engagement
    • Engagement in a Time of Crisis
    • Engagement for Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism
  • Requests for technological support before or during your workshop, symposium, panel, or poster
  • Primary presenter contact information
  • Co-presenter(s) contact information
    Note: For workshops and panels, this means “all other members of the workshop” or “all other members of the panel.”