The Center for Engaged Learning research seminar on (Re)Examining Conditions for Meaningful Learning Experiences will support multi-institutional research addressing this theme, with three one-week summer meetings on the Elon University campus.

In light of extended travel restrictions by participants’ colleges and countries and the uncertainties all of us are facing regarding COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the first face-to-face meeting of this research seminar until 2021. Although we will delay our first summer meeting, we plan to use June 2020 – June 2021 to facilitate early (remote) community-building and pre-planning for collaborative research. We’ll be following up with accepted participants to provide more details, soon.

• June 27-July 2, 2021 (Summer 1 Meeting): 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. We anticipate that Year 1 of the study will focus on “What is?” (Hutchings, 2000), constructing a comprehensive, descriptive analysis of (high-impact) educational practices at 18-24 institutions. This analysis will enable participants to speak to how colleges and universities foster these conditions for meaningful learning, identifying both strategies specific to case study institutions and those shared by multiple participating colleges.
• June 26-July 1, 2022 (Summer 2 Meeting): 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. We anticipate that Year 2 will move to examining “What works?” or “Visions of the possible” research questions (Hutchings, 2000) to explore strategies for scaling up access to these conditions so that more students can engage with – and more institutions can offer – meaningful learning experiences.
• June 25-June 30, 2023 (Summer 3 Meeting): Participants will reconvene to share their year-two results, to plan continuations of their work, and 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.

Participant Expenses

Elon University will provide lodging in residence halls and meals for seminar participants during the seminar’s 2021-2023 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, mileage, airport parking, meals in transit) 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.

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 and pool.

Meals

All meals and snacks will be provided (Sunday dinner through Friday lunch). Accepted participants 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 mid-80s and lows in the 60s. The weather in July tends to be moderately humid, with highs in the high-80s and lows in the high-60s.