CESI Special Projects

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CESI Community Advisory Team

The Community Engaged Scholarship Institute’s (CESI) Community Advisory Term (CAT) is a small group of community members and leaders, each with expertise in unique areas, services, and groups. They provide high-level guidance to the CESI Director to ensure that CESI is informed and supportive of community-driven mandates and interests.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

CESI Faculty Advisory Board

The CESI Faculty Advisory Board provides guidance and advice to the CESI Director and staff on high-level issues including program development and design, staffing, strategic plans, and priorities. It is composed of senior CSAHS scholar-practitioners in the fields of community engaged scholarship, community-engaged research, and teaching and learning.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

COVID-Related Resources

This page contains links to a variety of resources related to COVID-19 and the current pandemic context; they have helped the CESI team think through how to continue to do our best, most principled work in these very disrupted times. It includes practical resources, reports and primers, resource collections, and opinion pieces that may be helpful and interesting to CESI's partners, collaborators, students, and affiliated faculty as well as the local Guelph-Wellington community.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Poster Exhibit: A Decade at CESI's Research Shop

The year 2019 marked the 10th anniversary of the Research Shop, one of the five programs through which the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI) fulfills its mandate to support and carry out community engaged scholarship. At the Research Shop, staff and graduate students work with local and regional organizations to design and carry out projects that address community research priorities.

Product(s): 
Event
Poster
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Knowledge Mobilization
Research Shop
Project Partner(s): 
The SEED
Toward Common Ground
Focus on Nature
Yorklands Green Hub
Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy
Guelph and Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination
Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington

Tips for Virtual Exchange and Engaging Partners Online: Experiential Learning Opportunities Through Remote Partnerships

This three-part guide is designed for anyone interested in how virtual partnerships work, how they can be integrated with community engagement and/or experiential learning, and how they can enrich university-level courses. It provides an introduction to virtual community-engaged experiential learning, tips for virtual exchange and engaging partners online, and key values to consider when bridging global and local community engagement practices. 

Author(s): 
Samantha Blostein
Product(s): 
Fact Sheet
Report
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Canadian Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Committee (MARAC) Model Program

This literature review was conducted by CESI's Research Associate for the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto as a part of the Canadian Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Committee (MARAC) Model program. It aims to review literature pertaining to risk factors that predict women’s vulnerability to intimate partner violence or intimate partner homicide, as well as identify current domestic violence risk assessment tools and provide an overview of their strengths and weakness.

Author(s): 
Molly Contini, Brianna Wilson
Product(s): 
Report
Literature Review
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Project Partner(s): 
Woman Abuse Council of Toronto

Fostering and Sustaining Community-University Research in Changing Times: A Workshop with Community Engagement Experts

On Thursday, November 7th the Community Engaged Scholarship Instiutte hosted participants from a range of sectors to learn with and from international community engagement experts Dr. Emma McKenna (Queen’s University Belfast) and Dr. Henk Mulder (University of Groningen).

Product(s): 
Report
Presentation
Event
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Guelph's Research Shop in an International Context

On Friday, November 8th 2019 the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute marked the 10th anniversary of the Research Shop by holding a public symposium to reflect on our work and continue to enhance our knowledge of community-university research practice and impacts.

Product(s): 
Presentation
Event
Fact Sheet
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Photo exhibit: Perspectives on community-university partnerships

Student learning can reach far beyond the classroom. Through community-engaged learning, faculty, students and community organizations partner to co-create research programs that have a real impact. The Community Engaged Scholarship Institute works to integrate community-driven research into the course context, introducing students to collaborative research and key issues of relevance in our community.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Knowledge Mobilization

Research Shop 10th Anniversary Posters

The Research Shop is one of five programs through which the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI) fulfills its mandate to bring together community and campus skills and resources to directly support and carry out community-engaged scholarship and develop others' capacities tto do so. At the Research Shop, staff and graduate students work with local and regional organizations to design and carry out projects that address community research priorities.

Product(s): 
Poster
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Knowledge Mobilization
Research Shop

Research Shop Digital Stories

The impacts and experiences of community engaged research and community-university partnerships can be challenging to share via traditional research and knowledge dissemination methods.

Product(s): 
Video
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Research Shop

Supporting Youth Transitions: Respecting Dignity, Fulfilling Dreams

This project was conducted by four Community Living organizations in southern Ontario (Stratford and Area, Guelph and Wellington, Cambridge, and Owen Sound and District) in collaboration with the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute.

Author(s): 
Jess Notwell, Ashley Garner, Linda Hill, Lourdes Toro, Debb Young, Joanne Young, Emily Farrell
Product(s): 
Report
Presentation
Infographic
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Project Partner(s): 
Community Living Stratford and Area
Community Living Guelph and Wellington
Community Living Cambridge
Community Living Owen Sound and District

Supports for International Students' Seeking Permanent Residence

This project is a collaboration between the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute and the Guelph-Wellington Local Immigration Partnership to explore the needs of international students hoping to transition to permanent residents. Through a review of the literature and key interviews with staff of post-secondary institutions and settlement service organizations, this research identified offerings and gaps in services to international students in Guelph and Wellington.

Author(s): 
Kimberley Goh
Product(s): 
Report
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Project Partner(s): 
Guelph-Wellington Local Immigration Partnership

Energy Economy Research Agenda Pilot

In collaboration with Faculty Affiliates and community partners, the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute is leading the development of a community research agenda focused on the interconnections between community energy and the economy. This pilot explores ways to coordinate activities across the university to meet community research needs in a specific thematic area.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Community Engaged Teaching and Learning

Learning together: Sharing emergent and unconventional approaches to community-university collaboration

On October 29th, CESI hosted an event showcasing innovative and unconventional approaches to community engagement. Through this event, attendees began to learn more about the multiple ways that people in various roles and locations pursue community-university collaborations. Presenters and participants explored how radical, emergent, and unconventional work can generate significant impact.

The day featured panels, presentations, workshops, and roundtable discussions covering a range of topics, including:

Product(s): 
Report
Event
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Poster Exhibit: Innovative Research at CESI and CSAHS

This poster exhibit was displayed at the 10C community hub in downtown Guelph in February 2018. It features 10 innovative research projects conducted by researchers at the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI) and College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS). Projects were selected by CESI and CSAHS Dean's Office and covered a variety of themes, including food waste, violence against women, sustainability, and civic issues (see below for a full list). Together, they provide a snapshot of the innovative research underway on a range of topics at both CESI and CSAHS.

Author(s): 
Karen Nelson, Angela Annis, Kirby Calvert, Barbara Morrongiello, Carly Fraser, Leah Levac, Mavis Morton
Product(s): 
Poster
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

The Focus on Nature Program: Summary of Insights from Children’s Photography and Academic Literature

This report highlights key findings from a research study conducted with Focus on Nature (FON) by Mark Shakespear, Undergraduate Research Assistant at the University of Guelph, with the guidance of Jeji Varghese.

Product(s): 
Summary Report
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Project Partner(s): 
Focus on Nature

Engaged Practitioner in Residence 2016-2017

The Engaged Practitioner in Residence program creates a campus presence for a community expert, generating opportunities for them to contribute to student, faculty, staff, and community-partnered activities. Each Engaged Practitioner in Residence (EPR) brings their own knowledge and expertise to this role, allowing for maximum innovation, creativity, and reach across the University.

The 2016-2017 year of the EPR was focused on evaluation as a form of community engaged scholarship. The 2016-2017 EPR, Andrew Taylor, is a program evaluation practitioner with more than 20 years experience.  He has a particular interest in collaborative approaches to evaluation, and on the link between evaluation and community action. 

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Global Engagement Strategy

Driven by a desire to apply lessons learned at the local level to a global context, discussions around CESI's Global Engagement Strategy began in 2013 out of the work to create a Vision for a School for Civil Society. Currently being piloted, this strategy builds on the University of Guelph's history of international research and programs, and increase the permeability between the university and global communities.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Vital Signs: Community Wellbeing Report

Vital Signs provides a meaningful, high-level snapshot of strengths and challenges in Guelph and Wellington County.

Product(s): 
Report
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

What We Know: Research and Insights on Guelph and Wellington

The Community Engaged Scholarship Institute hosted its third annual event on March 1st and 2nd, 2017 in Downtown Guelph. 'What We Know' brought together 49 posters featuring diverse research on Guelph and Wellington from community organizations, municipal staff, faculty and students. Attendees learned about feral cats, farmland loss, food waste, the wellbeing of children and more - all specific to the communities that they live, work and play in.

Product(s): 
Poster
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Documenting and Assessing Engaged Scholarship and Impact for Tenure and Promotion

Systems for faculty career advancement – including promotion, tenure, and professional development – have often not kept pace with changing faculty roles. They further have not met the demands of major funding agencies or the mandate that publicly funded research benefit all citizens. To address this topic, the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences and the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute hosted a 3-hour workshop on May 6th, 2016. This workshop guided participants on how to document and assess engaged scholarship and impact in the context of tenure and promotion application.

Product(s): 
Toolkit
Presentation
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Engaged Practitioner in Residence 2015-2016

The Engaged Practitioner in Residence program creates a campus presence for a community expert, generating opportunities for them to contribute to student, faculty, staff, and community-partnered activities. Each Engaged Practitioner in Residence (EPR) brings their own knowledge and expertise to this role, allowing for maximum innovation, creativity, and reach across the University.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Engaging with the University of Guelph

The Community Engaged Scholarship Institute hosted its second annual event on February 25, 2016. A total of 76 individuals representing 22 community organizations and groups joined us to explore the ways by which we can enhance and improve our community-university partnerships. The day consisted of two separate sessions, with the opportunity for all participants to meet and network over lunch.

Product(s): 
Summary Report
Event
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Resources and Tips to Find Research and Data: Workshop for Community

The rise of open access and open data publishing has increased the amount of research and data freely available online. However, finding this information and knowing how to access it can sometimes seem impossible.

Product(s): 
Presentation
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Thematic Focus: Immigration & Refugees Projects

Starting in 2016, the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute has taken on a number research and knowledge mobilization projects to support the efforts of the Guelph-Wellington community to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for immigrants in the context of the Syrian refugee crisis. These projects are part of our commitment to provide timely and engaged research supports, and leverage the University's research expertise for community benefit.

Product(s): 
Event
Presentation
Report
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Knowledge Mobilization

Community Engaged Scholarship: Addressing the Complexity of the Work

On February 11th, 2015, CESI hosted a full-day event on community-engaged scholarship to explore themes of complex partnerships, research tensions, and how to structure engaged projects. Over 40 faculty, staff and students attended from various departments at the University of Guelph.

Product(s): 
Presentation
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

How to Build a Research Shop: Workshop

The Community Engaged Scholarship Institute organized and hosted the workshop How to Build a Research Shop on May 26th, 2015 at Algonquin College as a pre-conference workshop to the CUExpo.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Research Shop

Toward Common Ground

Toward Common Ground is a partnership of 12 organizations working together intentionally and strategically to respond to community needs. This Trillium-funded project builds on Guelph-Wellington's history of collaboration, providing a new structure for local health and social service agencies to work together in an integrated and coordinated way. This initiative weaves together the work of local agencies to gain a greater understanding of the gaps, needs, strengths, and change efforts in Guelph-Wellington.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Project Partner(s): 
Toward Common Ground
Toward Common Ground logo

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Protocol Evaluation Research

In 2014, Professor Mavis Morton lead a community engaged evaluation of the First Response Protocol through a community-university partnership between the Action Committee and the University of Guelph. It explored how well the First Response Protocol was working from the perspectives of service users and providers, as well as the successes and challenges of agencies in Guelph-Wellington responding to sexual assault and domestic violence.

Product(s): 
Summary Report
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

CESI Faculty Affiliates

CESI Faculty Affiliates are a rotating group of faculty at the University of Guelph who are doing work using community-engaged methodologies and/or work about community engaged scholarship, research, and teaching and learning. They are engaged in formal partnerships and collaborations with CESI, and represent a range of disciplines and career levels.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Partnership with IICSI

CESI has a longstanding relationship with Dr. Ajay Heble and the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI).

Most recently, CESI provided support for IICSI's successful SSHRC Partnership Grant proposal. Awarded in 2013, this 7-year, 2.5 million dollar grant involves a research team comprised of 56 scholars from 19 different institutions and partners with over 30 community-based organizations. IICSI aims to create positive social change through the meeting of improvisational arts, innovative scholarship, and collaborative action.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Project Partner(s): 
International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation

Focus on CES at the U of G

On April 24th, 2012, the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute hosted a poster session as a part of the meetings of the Canadian University Presidents' Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada in Guelph. There were 14 posters in total, highlighting collaborative projects led by community engaged scholars, students, and community organizations. 

Product(s): 
Poster
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Rescuing Policy: a public policy forum seminar

On May 15, 2012, Dr. Don Lenihan, Vice President, Engagement at the Public Policy Forum ran a workshop on “Rescuing Policy: a public policy forum seminar”, hosted by the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute.

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Research Shop 2009-2012: A Celebration

On November 9th, 2012, the Research Shop celebrated the many community and university partnerships developed over the last three years!

The posters were presented at the River Run Centre, where remarks highlighting the past three years of partnerships were given by university and community members. There were 26 posters, displaying a variety of topics and partnerships. Some of these topics included:

Product(s): 
Poster
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

The Science Shop/Research Shop School: A workshop to build mechanisms for community-university research engagement

This workshop was aimed at those interested in creating and running Science/Research Shops or other community-based research offices to link researchers with civil society research needs. The workshop was led by Science Shop directors Henk Mulder (Groningen University, The Netherlands) and Norbert Steinhaus (Bonn Science Shop, Germany), who work with Science Shops around the world, and Linda Hawkins from CESI/the Research Shop at the University of Guelph. 33 participants attended from 11 Canadian universities, 1 American university & 2 foundations. 

Author(s): 
Henk Mulder, Norbert Steinhaus, Linda Hawkins
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Research Shop

Engaging for Change

This project emerged from ongoing conversations among a number of organizations in the Guelph-Wellington region about the nature of social planning and decision-making in our current complex web of networks. These conversations led to the development of a more structured partnership, the launch of several interconnected projects, and the joint submission of a proposal for funding called “Engaging for Change: Practicing Collaboration and Planning in Guelph-Wellington”.

Product(s): 
Report
Presentation
Poster
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Partnership Practices: Working with Community, Industry and University

Partnership practices was a poster display of 52 posters in the old Quebec Street Mall, showcasing how the University of Guelph works with government, community, and industry to apply research knowledge and address social problems.

Product(s): 
Poster
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project
Project Partner(s): 
Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Community Engaged Scholarship: Critical junctures in research, practice, and policy

On November 4th and 5th, 2010, the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI) co-sponsored and hosted Critical junctures in research, practice, and policy. This conference brought together national and international scholars to discuss emerging research on community-engaged scholarship and its implications for research, policy and practice. Community-engaged scholarship (CES) and community-academic partnerships have been gaining importance in higher education institutions.

Author(s): 
Lisa Wenger, Linda Hawkins, Sarena D. Seifer
Product(s): 
Report
Presentation
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Rewarding CES: Transforming University Policies and Practices

Rewarding CES is a self-funded partnership comprised of eight universities and an international organization working together to address university culture, policies, and practices to recognize and reward community engaged scholarship (CES).

Program(s): 
CESI Special Project

Survey on Faculty Community Engagement in CSAHS

In 2009, faculty members from the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS) at the University of Guelph were surveyed about their community-engaged activities. The survey resulted in a report which documents faculty involvement in community-engaged work and identifies important facilitators of engagement in research, teaching, and service. The report also offers ideas of successful practices which could be used to inform new initiatives intended to recognize and support community-engaged efforts.

Author(s): 
Linda Hawkins, Jaime Brown & Anne Bergen
Product(s): 
Report
Program(s): 
CESI Special Project