“Engaged scholarship can be defined as scholarly activities focused on the social, civic, economic, educational, artistic, scientific, environmental, and cultural well-being of people and places beyond the academy. It involves the creation and dissemination of new knowledge to address social issues through collaborative relationships and shared activity between those in the university and those outside the university” (Campus Compact, 2022).
Purpose
The Eisman Award for Engaged Scholarship recognizes SF State faculty whose research or creative work exemplifies excellence in community-engaged scholarship. Established in honor of Dr. Jerry Eisman, Professor Emeritus and former Director of ICCE, the award celebrates faculty whose scholarly or creative activities strengthen the university’s commitment to meaningful engagement and the public good.
Description
This award supports faculty whose work demonstrates reciprocal collaboration with communities and contributes to both disciplinary advancement and positive social impact. Projects may include community partnerships, participatory research, creative practice, or public scholarship that fosters connection between the university and broader communities of interest.
Grant Amount: Up to $4000.00
Funds will be transferred to the applicant's department/program/school. No additional faculty pay may be requested. For more information about allowable and non-allowable costs, please see the below section, "Use of Funds".
Eligibility
Open to SF State tenure-track, tenured, and lecturer faculty with a record or plan for community-engaged scholarship. Previous recipients may reapply after three years with a distinctly new project.
Applications will be reviewed based on:
- Scholarly or Creative Merit – Originality, rigor, and contribution to disciplinary knowledge.
- Community-Centered Engagement – Responsiveness to community priorities and reciprocal collaboration.
- Collaboration & Co-Production – Extent of partner involvement in design, implementation, and dissemination.
- Social Impact & Public Relevance – Benefits for both community and academic audiences; contribution to the public good.
- Budget Clarity & Justification – Appropriate, transparent, and policy-compliant use of funds
The following questions appear in the online application form. We recommend reviewing them in advance to prepare your responses.
Project Overview
Briefly describe your proposed project. What is the focus of your research or creative work?
(Maximum 250 words)
Scholarly or Creative Merit
Explain how your project contributes to your academic or creative discipline. What are the primary questions, goals, or creative objectives you will address? Describe any relevant methodologies, frameworks, or approaches you will use.
(Maximum 350 words)
Community-Centered Engagement
Identify the community, organization, or community of interest that will be involved or impacted by your project. How have community needs, perspectives, or priorities shaped your approach? Describe how you will ensure ethical and reciprocal collaboration.
(Maximum 350 words)
Collaboration and Co-Production
Describe how your project involves collaboration or co-production with community or campus partners. How are partners engaged in the design, implementation, or dissemination of your work?
(Maximum 300 words)
Social Impact/Benefits and Public Relevance
Describe the anticipated impact of your project. How will your work benefit communities and contribute to the public good or broader understanding within your field? What are your plans for sharing outcomes with academic and/or public audiences?
(Maximum 300 words)
Optional: Additional Information
Include any additional information you believe strengthens your application (e.g., anticipated challenges, plans for sustainability, or future collaborations).
(Optional – Maximum 200 words)
Optional: Upload CV, Syllabus, or Supporting Materials: You may upload relevant supporting documents such as a CV, syllabus, or examples of prior related work.
Budget and Use of Funds
Provide a brief description of how you intend to use the Eisman Award funding. List key expenses (e.g., student support, community stipends, materials, dissemination costs, or travel related to the project). All expenditures must align with SF State policies and may not be used for faculty salary or release time.
Download and complete the Budget Template before uploading it below:
Grant funds may be used to support the following expenses (varies by grant category). All disbursements must comply with established campus policies for purchasing, procurement, reimbursement, travel authorization and claims, and tax reporting/withholding. Upon notification of an award, both grant recipients and their department budget officer will have an opportunity to meet with ICCE to review disbursement procedures, as needed or requested. Funds used must align with the approved proposed budget. Any changes to the budget must receive prior approval from ICCE.
Partner Services
Funds may be used to compensate the community partner that works with faculty to develop and implement the grant-funded activity. Funds will be transferred to the applicant’s department/program. The applicant will have to work with their department/college to ensure the Partner Agency has filed a Vendor Data Record, provided a brief scope of work (including estimated costs) and provisional approval from SF State Procurement has been obtained. Faculty must ensure that the community partner completes these details and any subsequent disbursement requirements.
Supplies & Materials
Funds will be transferred to the applicant’s department/program for supplies and services necessary for the implementation of the CSL course and/or civic engagement-related activities.
Hospitality
Reimbursement expenses for hospitality are allowed, if official guests are present, which includes employees visiting from another work location, students, and community members. Funds will be transferred to the applicant’s department/program.
Travel (relating to civic engagement and/or service learning)
Funds will be transferred to the applicant's department/program. Please review the university and your College Travel Processes and Resources (some colleges provide their own travel summary and deadlines).
Student Assistant(s)
(classification: regular student assistant)
- Service Learning Course: Funds can be used to hire a student assistant(s) to facilitate partnerships with service-learning placement sites and support faculty and students enrolled in the course in completing the service-learning assignment. Student Assistants must be currently enrolled at SF State and must be directly supervised by the faculty member. Funds will be transferred to the applicant’s department/program and the administrative staff will set up payroll accordingly (please see related accordion tab: Use of Funds for Service Learning Assistants).
- Civic Engagement/Civic Learning: Funds can be used to hire student assistant(s) to support the capacity building (e.g., planning, organizational development) leading to the implementation of the proposed service-related project. Funds will be transferred to the applicant’s department/program and the administrative staff will set up payroll accordingly.
The SLA will assist in the development and growth of community partnerships, the development of service-learning support materials, and the facilitation of service-learning opportunities.
Examples of student responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Delivering presentations to communicate the purpose, logistics, and context of service learning
- Leading in-class and on-site orientations with the community partner
- Assist with the coordination of student placements
- Ongoing problem-solving, mentoring, and logistical support for student peers
- Collection and documentation of relevant service-learning course documents (acknowledgment forms, completion of hours, risk management, etc.). ICCE staff are available to answer questions.
- Assist with planning and facilitating reflection activities
- Analysis of community partner, student, and faculty mid and end-of-semester evaluations
- If the SL experience is remote/virtual, assist with monitoring and tracking successes and challenges.
Service Learning Assistants are not:
- Teaching Assistants
- Allowed to grade papers or reflection assignments
- Expected to enroll in the service-learning course (but optional)
- Allowed to approve new partners or activities without instructor consent and ICCE risk management & liability processes completed
- Permitted to help develop special projects outside of the scope of normal course coordination
Important to note:
- Applicants must indicate in the budget proposal the desired hourly pay and number of hours to justify the requested award amount.
- The SLA (regular student assistant classification) must be a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at SF State and can assist for up to 20 hours per week for one term (maximum of 16 weeks). (Note: Standard pay range is $19.16 to $20 per hour (cannot go lower than $19.16) and the rate for student hire through this grant can be decided by faculty members but cannot be below the SF minimum wage ordinance).
Non-allowable costs for all grants
- Faculty course release time
- Alcohol, receptions, entertainment costs (e.g., tickets to recreational events, gift cards, ball games, etc.), and/or banquets
- Scholarships, gifts, or other prize monies, raffles
- Paying participants to complete a service experience
- Travel Insurance
- Lease of facilities
- Campaigning or political mailings
- Equipment (e.g., printers, laptops, monitors, cell phones)
- Tuition of any kind
- Additional Faculty Pay
Before submitting your application, please review the following requirements for the Eisman Award:
- Applicants must be current SFSU faculty or staff
- Applicants may apply to more than one grant category but are eligible to receive funding for only one award. We encourage applicants to submit the proposal that best aligns with their project goals.
- If your project involves a course, you must complete the CSU Community Engaged Learning Tool (CELT) prior to submitting your application.
- For non-course-related projects, completing the CELT is not required.
- Applications for course-related projects submitted without a completed CELT will be considered incomplete.
Applicants are encouraged to reference the Community Engaged Learning Essential Elements in their responses. These elements should inform course or project design, community partnerships, reflection activities, and assessment strategies. Please refer to the ICCE Community-Engaged Learning Course Designation Overview for additional guidance on using the CELT Tool and understanding the Community Engaged Learning Essential Elements (CELEs).
Grant funding is contingent upon continued support from the CSU Chancellor’s Office Call to Service Initiative.