(Re)Design Your Course for Civic Engagement
Organized in collaboration with the Center for Civic Engagement and the Center for Integrated Professional Development
Faculty and Course Instructors are invited to submit a proposal to participate in the Summer 2026 (Re)Design your Course for Civic Engagement and Sustainability. Community and Civic Engagement is one of the core values outlined in ISU’s strategic plan, Excellence by Design: 2024-2030, and sustainability is a priority of our institution as outlined in the campus Sustainability Strategic Plan. Through the cohort model, faculty benefit from the support of colleagues, Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), Office of Sustainability (OS), and Center for Integrated Professional Development (CIPD) staff, and representatives from various campus and community stakeholders as we work to incorporate civic engagement and sustainability into the learning experiences of students.
Course Instructors selected to participate in this cohort will spend the equivalent of five days (~30 hours, both in-person and on their own) working to integrate civic engagement and/or sustainability into a course they have taught and will teach again in the near future. This will include synchronous and asynchronous work per the schedule outlined below. The redesign process will allow faculty to explore ways to promote active learning experiences and assessment through which students can gain an awareness and understanding of civic engagement as a lifelong responsibility.
This redesign opportunity can also be used to develop a course that could be included in the interdisciplinary collection of available Civic Engagement and Social Change Minor electives and/or meet criteria for the Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement GenEd 27 Implementation, both of which further ISU’s commitment to the values of informed and ethical global leadership and institutionalization of civic engagement and sustainability across the curriculum.
Course Redesign Project Goals
- Afford course instructors the opportunity to integrate their curricular interests with civic engagement and sustainability components through the Civically Engaged Learning Goals and Sustainability Competencies.
- Further ISU’s commitment to the values of equity, diversity, access, and belonging and community and civic engagement through the integration of civic engagement and sustainability across the curriculum.
- Broaden interdisciplinary course offerings.
Participant Learning Outcomes
- Identify civic engagement and/or sustainability competencies that connect with discipline and course content
- Design a course which includes civic engagement and/or sustainability components (learning outcomes, assignments, syllabus language)
- Develop a plan for a specific course assessment where students demonstrate some aspect of civic and/or sustainability learning
- Formulate a plan for communicating the value of civic engagement and sustainability to students (course outcomes, syllabus statements)
- Articulate the connection between civic engagement, sustainability, and equity, diversity, access, and belonging
- Develop a plan for possible scholarly activity (e.g., design a study, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, ideas for conference presentations in your discipline, the University-Wide Teaching & Learning Symposium, possible publication outlets, presentation at the Civic Engagement Celebration, design a student research project)
Dates of Workshops (Participation required at all sessions)
Session I: Monday, May 18, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Introduction and conceptualization of civic engagement and experiential learning, sustainability and sustainable development goals (SDGs), pedagogical practices, and the role of civic education across various disciplines.
- Participation in a Deliberative Dialogue and exploration of it as a classroom practice
Session II: Wednesday, May 20, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Participate in an SDG Game session and explore the application of gamification as experiential learning
Asynchronous Work, May 18 – May 26
- Learn about topics such as: Educating for Democracy, Conflicts and Contradictions, Suspending Damage, Principles of Partnership, Service Learning, Sustainability, and more
- Explore syllabi databases and consider ways to integrate these concepts and activities into coursework
- Complete modules posted on Canvas
Session III: Tuesday, May 26, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Considering backward design and planning and situational characteristics
- Articulating transformational goals for redesigned courses
- Creating and incorporating academically rigorous learning outcomes that integrate elements of civic engagement and sustainability competencies
- Applying active, reflective learning experiences that support learning outcomes
- Hearing from engaged and experienced faculty members who do the work
Asynchronous Work: May 26 – May 31
- Matching learning outcomes with assessments and learning experiences
- Office hours for those who would like more support with this process
- Complete modules posted on Canvas
Session IV: Thursday, May 28, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Visit community-based organizations to learn about their work and to consider partnership opportunities
- Lunch and learn about partnership best practices and meet with more non-profit and government leaders interested in ISU collaborations
Session V: Tuesday, June 2, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Review best practices in reflection, assessment, and evaluation
- Consider how to match civically engaged learning outcomes and sustainability competencies with appropriate assessment tools
- Learn about opportunities for continued engagement
Asynchronous Work: June 2 – June 10
Reflecting on the course, process and sharing your redesigned course syllabus
Eligibility and Award Amounts
Eligibility
This is a university-wide initiative. All tenured, tenure-track, and full-time non-tenure- track instructors, as well as staff with teaching responsibilities, are eligible to apply. Nine (9) course instructors from any discipline will be selected.
Award Amount
Faculty awards will include a stipend of $750 for completion of all required work and attendance at all sessions.
Proposal Details
Applicant Information
- Name
- Rank
- Department/School
- Proposed Course No and Title.
- Semester of anticipated delivery of redesigned course
- Approximate Course Enrollment
- Students Enrolled- Majors/Minors, Level- year in school, graduate, undergraduate, General Education Course (Ex: Juniors and Seniors, Marketing Majors, General Education course)
Please provide an approximately 300-word narrative explaining your interest in this redesign project. Also, explain how you envision integrating civic engagement and/or sustainability into an existing course or in developing a course new to you. We suggest referring to the Social Change Wheel, Civic Engagement and Social Change Minor learning outcomes, Civically Engaged Learning Goals, and Sustainability Competencies to describe how they are relevant to your discipline and course.
Attach a copy of the syllabus for the course you are planning to redesign
Questions?
Contact Dr. Dana Karraker at dmkarra@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-5110.