The Center for Engaged Learning at Elon University is pleased to announce the 2024 – 2026 Research Seminar on Affirming and Inclusive Engaged Learning for Neurodivergent Students. This three-summer research seminar facilitates multi-institutional research on systems, supports, pathways, and pipelines for neurodivergent students to facilitate access to and participation in high-quality engaged learning experiences. Research teams will use a mixed-methods approach to conduct qualitative and quantitative research.  

We invite interested scholars and practitioners, regardless of discipline, to apply to join a multi-institutional cohort of researchers collaborating to investigate: 

• neurodivergent students’ perspectives and experiences in engaged learning, 
• reimagined institutional structures and processes to support more affirming and inclusive engaged learning experiences, and 
• systematic change in higher education to promote affirming and inclusive engaged learning in and beyond academia.  

Selected applicants will meet on Elon University’s campus the following weeks:

• Year 1: June 23-28, 2024: 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. These research cohorts will enable larger scale studies and explorations of the impact of different institutional contexts.
• Year 2: June 22-27, 2025: 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.
• Year 3: June 21-26, 2026: Participants will reconvene to share their year-two results, to plan continuations of their work, and to participate in a conference on the seminar theme.

Read the full call for applications to learn more.

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 research seminar to inform mentoring meaningful learning experiences at their institutions.

Deadline to Apply: January 16, 2024

Printer-Friendly Call for Applications (PDF) | Apply Online