DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AWARD

Purpose: The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award recognizes excellence in research and scholarship that advances diversity, equity, and inclusion in the study and practice of service-learning and community engagement (SLCE). The purpose of the award is to recognize research that focuses specifically on a) the needs and experiences of diverse stakeholders in SLCE; b) practices that promote equity for marginalized or underserved communities; and c) strategies that make SLCE projects - and the field as a whole - more inclusive of diverse communities and perspectives. 

Eligibility: Any scholar (or team of scholars) with a distinguished body of high-impact contributions, indicating sustained field-building commitment and activity. “Scholar” as used here encompasses those who self-define as “researchers,” “scholars,” or “scholar-practitioners” and does not imply any particular academic status.

Evaluation criteria

  1. Significance: Exemplary research as demonstrated by a significant piece of scholarship and/or body of work that focuses on the experiences of marginalized or underserved communities; explores how power, positionality, and social identities influence SLCE teaching and research; and/or illuminates possibilities for greater equity and inclusion in the practices of campus/community partnerships.

  2. Impact: Has had a significant impact on - or has the potential to impact - community stakeholders and/or SLCE research and practice as indicated by (a) influencing other research and scholarship, (b) adoption and/or adaptation of this work by scholars or practitioners, and (c) building others’ capacity for high-quality research, scholarship, and/or practice.

  3. Generativity: Scholarship that deepens understanding of SLCE in specific places, spaces, and settings in ways that expand involvement, contribute to more just and equitable research and practice, improve or inspire practice, generate opportunities for further inquiry, advance collaboration or co-creation in scholarly production, and/or generate new knowledge.

Nomination packet

  1. A nomination letter (not to exceed two pages) developed by academic colleagues, students, and/or community partners summarizing the nominee’s contribution and establishing their significance in advancing knowledge, deepening research and practice, and/or impacting policy (co-authored letters are welcome).

  2. Two letters of support (not to exceed one page each) attesting to the quality and impact of the nominee’s work (co-authored letters are welcome). We welcome letters of support from individuals/organizations most involved with or impacted by the scholar’s work.

  3. One publication or other scholarly product representative of the nominee’s work that addresses the award criteria

  4. A statement by the nominee (not to exceed two pages) articulating purposes, research procedures, outcomes, and future directions (optional)

  5. A current copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae.

Deadline and recognitions process: Nominations for 2024 recognitions are due by April 21, 2024 and should be submitted electronically to awards@iarslce.org. Materials are reviewed by a selection committee composed of IARSLCE members and IARSLCE Board members. The IARSLCE Board receives and approves committee recommendations. All nominees will be notified of their status in May, and recipients and their nominators will be invited to attend and present at the IARSCLE annual conference in San Diego, Oct 2-4, 2024.