Building on a legacy of commitment and success.
Community engagement is an integral component of NIU’s mission. Community engaged research, teaching and artistry are happening across the university, enriching student learning, connecting faculty with practitioners in their areas of study, serving as an engine for social mobility, and benefiting communities near and far. NIU has a long history of commitment and impact in this area, affirmed by the university’s classification as a Carnegie Engaged Institution.
Currently, a team of faculty and staff are working on a self-study to apply for Carnegie reclassification in 2026. Partnerships are key to community engagement, and faculty and staff are asked to share what they are doing in this area by completing this simple Community Partnership Form.
In 2022, the Centering Engagement, Driving Impact Task Force was established to craft a plan for NIU to become a national model of excellence in community engagement, under the leadership of Rena Cotsones, vice president of the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development and chief engagement officer. After a year of intense study and deliberation, the task force issued a set of recommendations that are now being implemented. They include an active Engagement Roundtable made up of 18 faculty and staff from across campus, professional development opportunities focused on community engagement, enhancements to NIU’s engagement infrastructure, and raising awareness of the value and impact of community engagement.
“The task force was very thoughtful about how we can take community engagement to the next level at NIU,” Cotsones said. “The first task force recommendation we implemented was establishing the Engagement Roundtable to continue these university-wide discussions. I was delighted when Executive Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper enthusiastically agreed to co-chair the Roundtable with me. We’re all committed to enhancing the impact of NIU’s community engagement efforts and creating resources and support for faculty, staff, students and community members who are interested in this work.”
“The joy of community engagement is in its immense diversity,” said Elish-Piper. “Authentic community engagement grows out of deep community connections and provides solutions to critical societal problems – so it can look completely distinct in different fields of study and different communities. That’s why we’re asking NIU faculty to help us understand – what does community engagement look like in your field, and how can the university support your work?”
Although community engagement is varied and diverse, successful community engagement efforts share common threads of mutual benefit, respect and reciprocity.
“Community engagement is about uniting the resources and expertise of the university with the resources and expertise that are in the community to address challenges and maximize opportunities,” said Cotsones. “The core tenet of community engagement is this concept of mutual benefit and reciprocity. We’re coming together to do something that neither one of us could accomplish alone. Students who have the opportunity to do community engaged classes and research describe it as transformational in their NIU experience.”
Recognizing Faculty Engagement
NIU recognizes outstanding faculty members who exemplify a commitment to community engagement with the Presidential Engagement and Partnerships Professorship.
However, community engagement work hasn’t always been formally counted as part of the tenure and promotion process because it has often fallen outside of traditional methods for assessing scholarship and productivity. In February 2024, NIU’s Faculty Senate approved revisions to the bylaws that aim to change that. Among other changes, the Faculty Senate Bylaws now contain explicit language stating that community engaged teaching, research, creative activities and service are valid ways to demonstrate excellence in the promotion and tenure process.
“These changes help to center as valid and valued the community engaged work many faculty do within the core incentive structure for faculty on campus – the faculty personnel processes governing promotion and tenure,” said Faculty Senate President Benjamin Creed. “Community engagement will no longer be seen as ‘extra’ on top of the already rewarded teaching/librarianship, scholarship, research and artistry. This will open routes for productive, excellent faculty members to be recognized for the work they do, and it better aligns promotion and tenure with the mission, vision and values of the institution.”
Creed said these bylaw changes are just the first step. Now these changes need to be implemented at the college and academic unit level. “Faculty have an important role to play in implementing the changes at both levels, in encouraging more community engagement and in building their colleagues’ understanding of community engaged teaching, scholarship, research and artistry,” said Creed.
A review of all February 2024 changes made to the tenure and promotion bylaws is available online.
Community-engaged Course Designation
Many community-engaged courses are offered across the university. These engaged courses guide students to understand and address complex social issues through collaboration with a community partner.
Starting in spring of 2025, these courses will be officially designated in the NIU course catalog, allowing students to easily find and register for them.
“Community-engaged courses are one way NIU fulfills its public mission to serve the community locally, regionally, nationally and globally,” said Alicia Schatteman, NIU vice provost for Academic Affairs. “These courses also provide critical experiences to students that they can use as they explore career opportunities after graduation.”
In order to earn a community-engaged course designation, faculty must demonstrate that students are engaging with issues relevant to a community partner organization, in a way that is intentional and mutually beneficial.
“This course designation will be beneficial to students because it will provide one more piece of information that students can consider when deciding whether to register for a course. They’ll have a better understanding about course expectations and the work with community partners – and they’ll be able to easily find community-engaged courses.”
More information about community-engaged courses is available online.
Get Involved
NIU is working to build a community of practice focused on community engagement, and there are many ways to get involved.
Tell us about your partnerships! Please take a few minutes to complete this simple Community Partnership Form.
If you’re interested in learning about future community engagement events and professional development opportunities, complete this short online form to be added to the email list.
Another way to learn more is to reach out to one of the members of the Engagement Roundtable. We encourage you to start a conversation with the Engagement Roundtable members in your college or academic unit!
You can also learn more by exploring the NIU Community Engagement website.
