Graduate students - if you are interested in continuing research or work with community partners, I highly recommend the Graduate Certification in Community Engagement. They have a fantastic set of skills and resources for students, without adding to your course load. As participatory action research (PAR) is often a core approach in agroecological pursuits, this program is a great complement for those interested in sustainable agriculture and food systems scholarship.

- Julie 

*****

Good morning,

As you welcome this year's new and continuing graduate students back to campus, could you please bring the MSU Graduate Certification in Community Engagement to their attention?

Graduate Certification in Community Engagement is a non-credit professional development program for graduate and professional students interested in working with communities, broadly defined (e.g., nonprofits, K-12 schools, local and regional government, or industry partners, etc.). The program is open to masters and Ph.D. students and helps them learn more about service-learning, civic engagement, community based research, science outreach, broader impacts, digital humanities, and more. We focus on putting big ideas into practice. Graduates of the program say it gives them practical skills for collaboration and is a helpful credential in their job searches. 

The certification is very flexible, easy work into their classes, and supports their degree work. For example, the certification program's three requirements (workshops, project, and portfolio) can be taken over a number of years. Once the requirements are completed, students earn an official academic credential on their transcripts. There is no cost for participating in this program. 

To learn more, 
The deadline to apply is Friday, September 6, 2019, on-line here: https://gradcert.engage.msu.edu/application

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Best wishes for a great fall semester,
Diane

Diane M. Doberneck, Ph.D.
Director, Faculty and Professional Development
University Outreach and Engagement
Adjunct Associate Professor, Dept. of Community Sustainability
219 S. Harrison Road, Suite 93
East Lansing, MI 48824
em: [log in to unmask] is a non-credit professional development program for graduate and professional students interested in working with communities, broadly defined (e.g., nonprofits, K-12 schools, local and regional government, or industry partners, etc.). The program is open to masters and Ph.D. students and helps them learn more about service-learning, civic engagement, community based research, science outreach, broader impacts, digital humanities, and more. We focus on putting big ideas into practice. Graduates of the program say it gives them practical skills for collaboration and is a helpful credential in their job searches. 

The certification is very flexible, easy work into their classes, and supports their degree work. For example, the certification program's three requirements (workshops, project, and portfolio) can be taken over a number of years. Once the requirements are completed, students earn an official academic credential on their transcripts. There is no cost for participating in this program. 

To learn more, 
The deadline to apply is Friday, September 6, 2019, on-line here: https://gradcert.engage.msu.edu/application

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Best wishes for a great fall semester,
Diane

Diane M. Doberneck, Ph.D.
Director, Faculty and Professional Development
University Outreach and Engagement
Adjunct Associate Professor, Dept. of Community Sustainability
219 S. Harrison Road, Suite 93
East Lansing, MI 48824
em: [log in to unmask]