2007 Scholarship of Engagement Awards

Catherine Emihovich, Dean

The College of Education at the University of Florida is pleased to announce the 5th annual “Scholarship of Engagement” award competition for faculty, graduate students, and community members. These awards are adapted from Ernst Boyer’s vision that research- oriented universities need to broaden their concept of scholarship to reflect the issues and concerns of society at large. As he noted:

Scholarship means engaging in original research. But the work of the scholar also means stepping back from one’s investigation, looking for connections, building bridges between theory and practice, and communicating one’s knowledge effectively to students. Institutions should consider broadening the scope of the term ‘scholarship’ to recognize these four activities – discovery, integration, application, and teaching – as separate but overlapping dimensions of scholarship (1990, p. 16).

In addition to these criteria, the College of Education has also highlighted these elements: the impact the scholar’s work has had; wide dissemination through channels other than just scholarly journals; research that is focused on the ‘public good’; an integration of scholarship with teaching; time spent in a site (applies to field-based research); strong collaboration with other partners; a concern for equity and social justice; and, in the case of school/community nominees, effective translation of research results into action. In the words of the English philosopher Herbert Spencer, “The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.”

This year, we present awards in the following categories:

University
College of Education (five faculty members, one PK Yonge teacher)
Graduate student
School District Community

The 2006 winners were as follows:
University – Carolyn Tucker, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Psychology)
College of Education – Faculty: Diane Yendol Hoppey (School of Teaching and Learning); Jill Cox, Margie Donnelly, Julie Johnson (PK Yonge)
Graduate student – Jennifer Jacobs (School of Teaching and Learning)
School District – Jim Brandenburg (Principal, Alachua Elementary)
Community – David Lawrence, Jr. (Early Childhood Readiness Foundation, Miami)

The winners (and their nominators) will be invited to attend the “Scholarship of Engagement” Dinner as the Dean of Education’s guests on April 25, 2007 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at the Emerson Alumni Hall where they will receive a plaque in honor of their work. We will also be honoring our student scholarship winners and the generous donors who provided endowed scholarships. The keynote speaker for the event will be David Lawrence, Jr., President of the Early Childhood Readiness Foundation in Miami.

Nomination Process

This year, each COE department will be asked to choose a recipient who best meets the intent of this award. PKY will follow a similar procedure. To nominate someone for the remaining categories (university, COE graduate student, school district, community) please send a letter (no more than 3 pages) describing the candidate’s accomplishments, and explain why you believe he/she merits this award based on the criteria listed above (Previous nominees may be nominated again). Please do not send additional documentation apart from the nomination letter.

Nominations are due March 2, and should be sent to:

Mary McDonough
College of Education
P.O. Box 117040
Campus
marymcd@coe.ufl.edu

All nominations will be reviewed by a committee and winners will be informed in late March.