Fellows Program Details and Application

Fellowship Objectives

By the end of the fellowship, faculty, staff, and community fellows will be able to:

Identify and explain the key components of community-based service-learning, including its educational, civic, institutional, and community benefits.
Describe the purpose, value, and structure of UMB community engagement activities in West Baltimore.
Build an inventory of key resources that support community engagement activities and community-based service-learning education.
Facilitate community engaged scholarship or research, using the principles of community based participatory research and community academic partnerships.
Model best practices for collaboration between academic institutions and community based organizations/partners.
Transform community-based service-learning using best practices and evidence based pedagogies.
Incorporate social justice, health equity, or social determinants of health frameworks into community engagement education, scholarship, research, programs or practice.
Thoughtfully discuss aspects of structural inequalities, such as structural racism and its impact on society and Baltimore.
Develop a mentoring relationship with experienced community engaged faculty, staff, or community leaders, who serve as a resource for this growing collaborative.
Identify co-learning opportunities, whereby community leaders participate as collaborators and educators in delivery of UMB courses and educational programs.
Ultimately, address and improve the social determinants of health for Baltimore communities.

Timeline
- Dec 2024 – Feb 2025: Accepting applications to the Fellows Program in Community Engagement
- Feb 2025: Fellows selected
- Mar 2025 – Feb 2026: Fellows Program in Community Engagement 2025/2026 Cohort
- Mar 2026: Presentation on Fellows Program Accomplishments
Details
- Faculty, staff, and community fellows will participate as a cohort, attending workshops and training seminars together throughout the one year fellows program. Fellows will also pair with other fellows to mutually collaborate and support goals and interests.
- Each category of fellow will have unique expectations for their accomplishments (detailed below).
- Fellows may be eligible to request funds (up to $1,500) to support their Fellowship activities . If available and approved, funds may be used for professional development or other university-allowable expenses related to the incorporation of community based service-learning into courses or community engagement work (including supplies, teaching materials, educational resources, etc.).

All Fellows will:

Participate in an Opening Workshop held on February 26, 2025 and February 27, 2025, as well as additional workshop(s) throughout the year.
Participate in monthly training seminars to share best practices, scholarship, planning processes, and strengthen collaborations in the cohort.
Develop a logic model and program plan for implementation and write regular reports and updates on Fellowship activities and progress.
Work with a program mentor throughout the fellowship period.
Provide a scholarly presentation of Fellowship accomplishments at the end of the Fellowship.

Please see current Fellows' project examples here.

Faculty Fellows will:
- Integrate, develop, or advance service-learning strategies into one course, clinical, practicum, or educational program, by the end of the fellowship, working in collaboration with a community partner.
- Write a plan for community engaged scholarship or practice.
- Serve as an institutional resource for faculty interested in community engagement or community based service-learning.
Staff Fellows will:
- Develop a plan for incorporating community engagement best practices into a community service project or program.
- Serve as an institutional resource for staff interested in community engagement.
- Facilitate or establish a partnership with a community based organization or community partners.
Community Fellows will:
- Develop a program focused on the principles of community engagement in partnership with UMB faculty or staff.
- Incorporate strategies of service-learning when co-teaching with UMB faculty.
- Serve as a resource for community leaders who are interested in community academic partnerships.

Faculty Fellows: Full-time faculty members from all UMB schools interested in incorporating community based service-learning principles into a course or educational program or advancing community engaged research or scholarship, are encouraged to apply.

As part of the application, faculty will be asked to submit a CV and a letter of support/commitment from their Department Chair.

Staff Fellows: Full-time UMB staff members interested in incorporating community engagement best practices into their work are encouraged to apply.

As part of the application, staff members will be asked to submit a resume and a letter of support/commitment from their supervisor.

Community Fellows: Leaders (or designee) in a community agency in Baltimore who are interested in advancing community engagement partnerships, educating and collaborating with UMB faculty, staff, and students in their community based organizations, are encouraged to apply.
- As part of the application, community leaders will be asked to submit a resume and a letter of support/commitment from their agency.