The Center for Engaged Learning Research Seminar will support multi-institutional research addressing and surrounding this theme over a two-year period, with three one-week summer meetings on the Elon University campus.

• June 14-19, 2015:  Participants will meet on Elon’s campus to collaboratively develop and plan multi-institutional research projects to be conducted throughout the following year at the participants’ own institutions. Participants’ research will build on existing literature, and multi-institutional research teams will develop both inquiry questions and interventions to use in formative and summative evaluation.
• June 12-17, 2016: Participants will meet to share their initial multi-institutional results and to plan a more sharply focused research agenda for the research cohort for year two, using data gathered the first year to help develop that agenda. These multi-institutional collaborations will enable larger scale studies and explorations of the impact of different institutional contexts.
• June 11-16, 2017: Participants will reconvene to share their year two results, to plan continuations of their work, and/or to host a conference on the seminar theme.

Participants will produce significant, concrete outcomes. Past Center for Engaged Learning research seminars have generated edited volumes, journal articles and book chapters, white papers, and conference presentations – as well as local initiatives on participants’ home campuses. Participants will be well-positioned to use evidence-based assessments of student learning conducted as part of the seminar to inform study abroad and off-campus domestic study practices at their institutions.

Participant expenses

Elon University will provide lodging and meals for seminar participants during the seminar’s 2015-2017 summer meetings. In addition, each participant will be reimbursed up to $500/year (up to $1000/year for international participants) for travel costs (e.g., airplane tickets, baggage fees, mileage, airport parking, meals in transit, taxi service) incurred while traveling to the seminar’s summer meetings at Elon University. Full reimbursement policies will be distributed to accepted participants. Other participant expenses, including travel costs above the limit and any research costs, will be paid by the participants and/or their home institutions.

Travel and Accommodations

We will provide transportation to/from Raleigh Durham Airport (RDU) and Elon’s campus for accepted participants. If you will be driving to Elon, please let us know in advance so we can arrange for a parking permit. We will provide additional travel information with acceptance notices.

Accommodations

We provide housing in Elon University’s state-of-the-art residential facilities. Participants have air-conditioned single rooms, and most rooms have an in-room, private bathroom. Single rooms without an in-room bathroom have an in-room sink and a private bathroom within the same suite. Towels (bath towel and washcloth) and linens (sheets, blanket, and pillow) are provided, but participants must bring all toiletries.  A limited number of extra towels, pillows, and blankets are available at the beginning of the seminar week. All buildings on Elon’s campus have wireless internet access. Participants also have access to the sports facilities at Elon, including the fitness center, racquetball courts, pool, and tennis courts.

Meals

All meals and snacks will be provided (Sunday dinner through Friday lunch). Accepted participates will have an opportunity to note any dietary preferences.

About Elon University

Elon University is a selective, independent, private university renowned as a national model for engaged learning, along with excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs. Elon’s beautiful and historic campus in central North Carolina is designated as a botanical garden.

About the Area

Elon University is in the small town of Elon, North Carolina. The town of Burlington is adjacent and Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh are all within a 1 hour driving radius.

The weather in June tends to be moderately humid, with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s.