The Carnegie Canadian Community Engagement (CCCE) Pilot team has released two reports which capture the reflections, perceptions, and experiences of some of UWindsor’s community and industry partners, and its faculty and staff regarding the university’s present community-engaged practice.

In March, several community and industry partners were invited to share their experiences during the “Growing Together” partners appreciation and consultation breakfast. In total, 76 members from UWindsor and the surrounding Windsor-Essex community participated in round table discussions focused on what the University is doing, as well as what it can do to support and enhance its partnership work more effectively.

The resulting report describes key themes that came out of discussions around partnership impact and goals, and also highlights community-engaged efforts by the campus community during COVID-19. The report outlines commitments in the short-term related to community engagement. To UWindsor’s partners, President and Vice-Chancellor Robert Gordon wrote, “We are extremely grateful for your honesty and insights – and for the commitment and effort you have already brought to this initiative.”

The findings from the partners appreciation and consultation breakfast event complement findings from UWindsor’s faculty and staff. Eighty-five faculty and staff members provided input to the CCCE Pilot team by completing an electronic form or by participating in an interview. The resulting report provides examples of outstanding community-engaged work that is being carried out on campus. The report also highlights areas of needed growth, including faculty and staff desire to see:

• Greater awareness, recognition, and reward for outstanding community-engaged work;
• A university-led vision for community engagement and supporting infrastructure; and 
• Specific supports for more inclusive participation in community-engaged work.

“On behalf of the CCCE Steering Committee members, I want to thank every faculty, staff, and community partner who took time out of their busy schedules to participate in this important process. We look forward to moving ahead with concrete recommendations to better support and enhance the wonderful community-engaged work that is at the heart of our university mission,” said Dr. Cheryl Collier, Professor in the department of Political Science and Chair of the Steering Committee for the CCCE Pilot.

The CCCE Pilot team continues to invite feedback from the community, as the project deadline has been extended until December 15 due to COVID-19. Upon completion, the reports’ findings will inform long-term planning to most effectively build and support partnerships and the Univerity’s community-engaged actvity.

For more information about the CCCE Pilot, contact the team at community@uwindsor.ca.