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Application Questions

• What is Community Engagement?
  Community engagement is defined as active collaboration with local, state, regional, or global communities that builds on the resources, skills, expertise, and knowledge of the university and community to improve the quality of life in communities in a manner consistent with the university mission. Some examples of community engagement experiences could include volunteer service at a non-profit agency, participation in a community-based learning course, contribution of voluntary work on a political campaign, advocacy on specific social issues, involvement with a faculty member on a community-based research project, or employment in a community-based work-study position.
• Application Deadline
  All deadline dates are posted for each application cycle. Fall applications are available in August and due in October. Spring and Summer applications are available in January and due in March. SUMMER GRADUATES MUST APPLY DURING THE SPRING APPLICATION WINDOW. Completed applications must be submitted via the online Qualtrics application platform. The application must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST of the deadline date.
• Eligibility
  Undergraduate students with a minimum ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ GPA of 2.75 and graduate students with a minimum ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ GPA of 3.0, who will receive their respective degrees at the end of the respective semester, are eligible to apply for the Osprey Community Engagement Medallion.
• Application Process

  The application consists of:

  • Applicant eligibility, including GPA and graduation application status
  • Reflective essays explaining how five learning outcomes have been achieved through community-based experiences
  • Contact information for individuals who can validate community-based experiences
  • Personal essay highlighting impact of community-based work

   

  A. Applicant Information and Eligibility

  Submission of general applicant information, including overall Grade Point Average (GPA).

  Undergraduate students: A minimum ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ GPA of 2.75 is required. Applicants GPA will be verified via ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s student records.  Graduate and Professional Students: A minimum ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ GPA of 3.0 is required. Applicants GPA will be verified via ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s student records.

   

  B. Reflective Essays
  Applicants will write reflective essays explaining how community-based experiences have contributed to their achievement of five learning outcomes associate with community-based work. Essays should be 400-500 words. Applicants will be able to save and return to the application.  They will need to provide examples of community-based experiences to address the following learning outcomes:

  1. Civic Identity and Commitment
  2. Ethical Perspective
  3. Active Participation in Addressing Social Issues
  4. Collaboration with Others
  5. Self-Awareness of Personal Education

  The same community-based experience might be able to address multiple learning outcomes. The review committee is more interested in depth and learning associated with an experience than the breadth of experiences. Community-based experiences need to have occurred while a student at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.

   

  C. Contact Information

  In answering each learning outcome prompt, you will need to include contact information of an individual who you worked with who can attest to the experience. The same person can be used for multiple times.

  D.  Personal Essay

  Applicants are asked to submit an essay of at least 500 words that addresses the following statement:

  How have community-based experiences during your time at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ contributed to your growth as a responsible citizen? How are they related to what you learned in your coursework? How have your community-based experiences at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ affected the community? What has been their impact on your learning, development, and growth?

• Criteria and Selection

  A committee comprised of faculty, staff, and community partners will review and score applications. Applications will be rated on the evidence of the dimensions of a Community Engaged Osprey.

  Applications should reflect a breadth (variety) and depth (quality) of experience in several different community engagement experiences.

  What is a Community Engaged Osprey?

  In alignment with ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s mission and values, a Community Engaged Osprey is skillfully prepared through formal education to significantly contribute to their communities. This student has the capacity and desire to work with others to contribute to the public good.

  Evidence of a Community Engaged Osprey includes how your community and civic experience have:

  • Influenced your development of self-identity and civic identity, including your personal commitment to service.
  • Framed your ethical perspective on addressing pressing issues and complex problems in society.
  • Encouraged your role as an active participant in society to address social issues, including taking a leadership role and/or engaging others in service.
  • Strengthened your ability to effectively collaborate with others across differences (including diversity, interconnectedness, mutuality, and respect).
  • Developed your understanding of the benefit of your education to address social issues.  
• Notification and Recognition
  Applicants will be notified of their selection for this award no later than three weeks before commencement. Recipients are expected to attend an award ceremony at the University Center.  The ceremony typically occurs during the last two weeks of the semester, depending on space availability.  Family, friends, faculty members, and community members are invited to attend the ceremony. Recipients are also expected to wear the medallion at their ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ commencement ceremony.