Annual Civic & Community Engagement Awards

The Faculty Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Learning recognizes SFSU faculty who demonstrate a strong commitment to community engagement by integrating meaningful community engaged learning experiences into their teaching.

Selection Criteria: 

• Extensive Engagement Experience: Candidates should showcase experience in designing and delivering at least one community engaged learning opportunity within their courses.
• Innovative Reflective Teaching: Applicants must provide evidence of innovative approaches to incorporating reflective teaching methodologies that bridge the gap between community engaged learning and academic study.
• Partnership Significance: Summarize the service learning or community engagement activities, detailing partnerships involved and any embedded scholarship. Emphasize the impact and contributions made through the collaboration.
• Intentional Student Engagement: Clearly articulate how the service-learning activities intentionally involve students in addressing community issues, actively seeking solutions, and outline efforts made to communicate or publicize the accomplishments achieved.

Nomination Process:

• Nominations may be submitted by academic colleagues, administrators, and community partners. By recognizing and honoring faculty members who excel in community engaged learning, the award not only acknowledges their contributions but also serves as a catalyst for inspiring others to actively integrate and enhance community engagement within the academic environment. 

The Outstanding Student Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Learning recognizes an individual SF State student whose service and community engagement demonstrate exceptional commitment, leadership, and impact. It celebrates students who apply their learning in the community and contribute to a culture of civic engagement at SF State.

Selection Criteria: 
Student nominees must be enrolled at SF State through the Spring 2027 semester to be eligible.
Civic Commitment and Community Impact: Describe the student’s work with community partners, leadership, service accomplishments, and/or positive impact on the community.
Academic Learning and Personal Development: Describe how the experience deepened the student’s learning, critical thinking, reflection, and personal or professional growth.

Nomination Process: Faculty, staff, and community members may nominate an SF State student. Please provide specific examples of the student’s contributions and what they learned from the experience.

Student Group Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Learning

The Student Group Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Learning recognizes SFSU student groups whose collective service and community engagement make a meaningful contribution to our communities. This award celebrates groups that demonstrate collaboration, shared leadership, and a commitment to addressing community needs through community engaged learning and service.

Selection Criteria:

• Civic Commitment and Community Impact: Demonstrate how the group addresses community needs through service and community engagement. Examples may include collaboration with community partners, meaningful accomplishments, shared leadership, and efforts to engage or inspire others.
• Academic Learning and Personal Development: Demonstrate how the experience contributes to student learning and group development. Examples may include connections to coursework, reflection, collaboration, and personal or collective growth.

Nomination Process:

Faculty, staff, and community members may nominate an SFSU student group for this award.

The Community Partnership Award for Campus Collaboration recognizes community organizations and agencies that demonstrate a strong commitment to working with SFSU to address community needs and create meaningful opportunities for collaboration. This award celebrates partnerships that strengthen connections between the university and community, support student learning, and engage faculty and staff in community-based initiatives.

Selection Criteria: 

• Meets a Community Need: Demonstrate how the organization or partnership identifies and responds to community needs through meaningful programs, services, or initiatives.
• Connects Campus and Community: Demonstrate how the organization builds and strengthens partnerships between SFSU and the broader community. Examples may include collaborative initiatives, innovative approaches, and efforts that encourage ongoing campus-community engagement.
• Engaged Students, Staff, and/ or Faculty in Service: Demonstrate how the organization involves SFSU students, staff, and/or faculty in community engagement and experiential learning opportunities. Examples may include collaborative projects, inclusive participation, and positive outcomes for both the university and community.

Nomination Process: 

• Students, faculty, and staff may nominate community organizations or agencies for this award.

The Russell Staff Award for Excellence in Community Engagement recognizes SFSU staff who demonstrate a strong commitment to community engagement through their professional responsibilities, personal service, or both. This award celebrates staff whose contributions strengthen campus-community connections, support meaningful community initiatives, and reflect SFSU's commitment to serving our communities.

Selection Criteria: 

• Outstanding Achievement and Commitment: Demonstrate the nominee's achievements and commitment to community engagement. Examples may include supporting or leading projects, activities, programs, or courses that address community needs, strengthen community partnerships, and make a positive impact.

Nomination Process: 

• Faculty, staff, students, and community members may nominate SFSU staff members for this award.