Apply to be a Center for Engaged Learning Student Scholar

The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) invites applications from current Elon University first-year students for a three-year (Summer 2025 – Spring 2028) research collaboration on Learning on Location: Place-Based Pedagogies in Higher Education. Place-based learning emphasizes hands-on learning experiences that connect students to a local community and environment, whether on- or off-campus.

Accepted CEL Student Scholars will collaborate with three Elon University faculty:

• Lauren Kearns (professor of dance),
• Phillip Motley (professor of communication design and director, graduate programs for the School of Communications)
• Jessie L. Moore (director of the Center for Engaged Learning and professor of English)

They also will work closely with two additional, international scholars:

• Ashley J. Holmes, associate vice provost for teaching and learning at Oregon State University
• Susan Hrach, director of the Faculty Center and professor of English at Columbus State University in Georgia.

Learn more about the 2025-2028 research focus.

Eligibility

The CEL Student Scholar program is open to current Elon University first-year students (during the 2024-25 academic year) from any major. Applicants should have an interest in engaged learning in higher education (broadly) and in the 2025-2028 research topic  –  Learning on Location: Place-Based Pedagogies in Higher Education.

First-year students apply in spring (Spring 2025) to begin the program in the summer between their first and second years (Summer 2025).

What Will CEL Student Scholars Do?

Accepted CEL Student Scholars will collaborate on a three-year research project with Elon faculty and staff and with CEL Research Seminar participants from colleges and universities around the world.

During three consecutive summers (2025, 2026, 2027), 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- or single-occupancy, on-campus, summer housing;
• 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;
• Participate in a week-long research seminar meeting with faculty and staff participants from colleges and universities around the globe (July 13-18, 2025; July 12-17, 2026; and July 11-16, 2027);
• Attend (and during second and third summers, present at) the Conference on Engaged Learning; and
• Have opportunities to attend events with other undergraduate researchers.

During the academic years (2025-2026, 2026-2027, 2027-2028), 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 one-hour meetings every other week with the seminar co-leaders, and joining other CEL Student Scholars and the CEL Director for a one-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 one to two 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.

Two students will be accepted as CEL Student Scholars each year. Accepted scholars can discuss with the CEL Director and their advisor whether they wish to register for 4999 undergraduate research credit during one or more of their semesters as a CEL Student Scholar. Acceptance as a CEL Student Scholar also does not preclude participation in other Elon experiences like study away and internships.

Application Guidelines

To apply, submit the following materials by April 7, 2025:

• A letter of application
• A supporting letter of recommendation from an Elon University faculty or staff member.

Letter of Application

Your letter of application should:

• Describe your interest in the research topic  –  Learning on Location: Place-Based Pedagogies in Higher Education – and in collaborating with faculty to lead international research about engaged learning;
• Briefly introduce your major (and any minors), as well as other campus, community, or workplace activities that shape who you are; and
• Reflect on what you would hope to gain from this three-year research collaboration.

Submit an electronic copy of your letter of application to CEL Director Jessie L. Moore (jmoore28@elon.edu), by April 7, 2025.

Supporting Letter of Recommendation

Your supporting letter of recommendation should come from an Elon University faculty or staff member who can speak to:

• Your preparation for undertaking this mentored research opportunity
• Contributions you might make to the program, through both your collaboration with CEL’s research seminar participants and your interactions with other CEL Student Scholars.

The Elon University faculty or staff member writing your supporting letter of recommendation should submit an electronic copy of the letter to CEL Director Jessie L. Moore (jmoore28@elon.edu), by April 7, 2025.

Learn more about the Center for Engaged Learning Student Scholar Program.

Questions? Contact Jessie L. Moore, director of the Center for Engaged Learning, at jmoore28@elon.edu.