What is the Office of Community Engagement (OCE)?

The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) is responsible for building the university’s capacity to facilitate, elevate, and celebrate community-engaged work that expressly contributes to the public good. Through collaboration, building capacity, and planning programs and  initiatives, this newly created Faculty Fellow (FF) position will support various stakeholder groups to effectively advance community transformation.

Why is a Faculty Fellow vital to OCE's Success?

The Faculty Fellow serves as the Office’s advocate for…

• Discipline specific professional development on the creation and expansion of dynamic community-engaged learning courses.
• Broadening university-community networks and partnerships in the local and statewide communities.
• Building strong interdisciplinary relationships around common topics of interest to support research projects, creative activities, and grant proposals.
• Increased visibility of community-engaged research in promotion and tenure.

What are the Faculty Fellow's Responsibilities?

The Fellow will assist in building the capacity of the OCE on campus through creating expansive networks and partnerships. This position calls for a dynamic, visionary individual who will be a strong advocate for the OCE and provide leadership that fosters excellence in community engaged teaching and learning. The FF must be able to build strong relationships with college/school leadership as well as community partners. 

The Fellow will primarily be responsible for facilitating professional development trainings and workshops for community engaged faculty and staff by helping to establish the 1801 Community Engaged Fellows Society. They will also lead efforts to organize and provide resources for  community organizations through training and technical assistance as needed. Additionally, as the FF learns faculty research interests, they will be able to facilitate connection to relevant community organizations/members.

The Fellow will assist in submitting presentation proposals on behalf of OCE to the Center for Teaching Excellence and/or other campus partners who request workshops, trainings, or host conferences. Further, it is expected that the individual serving in this role will seek out and disseminate publication opportunities for faculty/staff as well as the OCE to raise the national profile of our institutional community engagement efforts.

The Fellow will assist with finding community-engaged funding opportunities to support existing and new initiatives, programs, and collaborative projects. This includes referring and/or providing technical assistance to faculty/staff members and community partners/members as it relates to community-engaged grant funded initiatives.

The Fellow reports directly to the Executive Director for Community Engagement. The term limit for the Faculty Fellow appointment is three years with the possibility for renewal. 

Compensation includes a $2,000/month stipend for nine months, with prorated summer pay based on days worked. Teaching responsibilities will be reduced accordingly, in agreement with the faculty member’s home department.

What Qualifications should the Faculty Fellow possess?

Candidates should have a strong record of community-engaged scholarship, with demonstrated  experience engaging with community members and supporting their peers and colleagues through mentorship or professional service (e.g., peer review). The ideal candidate will have practical knowledge of community-engaged scholarship and be passionate about creating a culture of mutually beneficial university-community partnership.

Minimum Qualifications

• Full-time tenured or professional-track faculty at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.
• Affiliated with the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus at the time of appointment.

How can I apply?

Applicants should submit the following materials:

• A letter of interest outlining relevant experience and vision for the position
• A current curriculum vitae
• Names and contact information for three professional references

Please submit all materials to access@mailbox.sc.edu. For questions about the position, please reach out to Dr. Theresa Harrison at harri642@mailbox.sc.edu 

Applications are now closed.