The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) invites applications from current Elon University first-year students for a three-year (Summer 2023 – Spring 2026) research collaboration on Mentoring Meaningful Learning Experiences. Accepted CEL Student Scholars will collaborate with three Elon University faculty – Dr. Sabrina Thurman, Dr. Takudzwa “Titch” Madzima, and Dr. Jessie L. Moore – and Dr. Ashley Finley, Vice President of Research and Senior Advisor to the President for the American Association of Colleges and Universities, to lead international, multi-institutional research on this engaged learning topic.

The Center’s 2023-2025 research seminar explores how colleges and universities can foster equitable cultures of mentoring that:

• Support all students in identifying, developing, and maintaining personalized mentoring relationships;
• Build trust and empower students, particularly from marginalized communities, to identify mentoring relationships as normal, productive relationships worth pursuing; and
• Prepare faculty, staff, and students to participate in meaningful mentoring relationships that adapt to members’ evolving needs over time.

The 2023-2026 CEL Student Scholars will collaborate with an international team of researchers to learn more about mentoring as a “high-impact practice” and how to foster equitable cultures of mentoring at higher education institutions.

During three consecutive summers (2023, 2024, 2025), CEL Student Scholars will…

• Receive a $3,000 summer stipend as compensation for the Student Scholar’s work during the summer;
• Have access to double-occupancy, on-campus, summer housing;
• Participate in a week-long research seminar meeting with faculty and staff participants from colleges and universities around the globe;
• Attend (and during second and third summers, present at) the Conference on Engaged Learning;
• Collaborate in weekly meetings with the seminar co-leaders and/or the CEL Director to advance the research project, collaborate on resources, and learn about strategies for studying engaged learning; and
• Have opportunities to attend events with other undergraduate researchers.

During the academic years (2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026), CEL Student Scholars will…

• Receive a $1,000 stipend each semester as compensation for the Student Scholar’s work during the academic year;
• Participate in weekly meetings:
  • Collaborating in 1-hour meetings every other week with the seminar co-leaders;
  • Joining other CEL Student Scholars and the CEL Director for a 1-hour meeting during the alternate weeks to discuss engaged learning research and practices, strategies for studying engaged learning, and other cross-seminar topics; and
• Spend an additional 1-2 hours a week completing research tasks.

CEL Student Scholars will have opportunities to present and publish on their research and will join an international community of scholars interested in engaged learning.