Citizen Scholar Certificate

The Citizen Scholar Certificate is a program of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and is supported by campus academic units and the Graduate College. It is designed to encourage instructors to explore and participate in the scholarship of engagement. It also provides opportunities for instructors to contribute to a community of practice that supports service-learning pedagogy and civic engagement at the University of Illinois.

When you decide to work on the Citizen Scholar Certificate, contact CTE to be matched with a Specialist in Education who will be your consultant for the process. There is no time limit for completion of the requirements.

Certificate Requirements

1. Teach at least one semester using service-learning pedagogy at the University of Illinois.
   
2. Submit a sample of your original work using service-learning pedagogy that has been assessed by your students or community participants.
   
3. Explore service-learning pedagogy through readings, teaching development workshops, or a seminar series and reflect on what you learned.
   
4. Participate in and reflect on engaged service or outreach research.
   
5. Contribute to a community of practice that supports service-learning pedagogy and civic engagement at the University of Illinois.
   

1. Teaching Experience Using Service-Learning Pedagogy

Document formal teaching using service-learning pedagogy for a minimum of one semester at Illinois. Service-learning courses involve students in service, which meets identified community needs, and in reflection to facilitate understanding of course content, an appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility.

2. Original Work and Its Assessment

Submit a sample of your original work using service-learning pedagogy. The work should be assessed by your students or community participants. Write a reflective essay about this work and its assessment.

3. Exploration of Pedagogy

Complete one of the following:

• Write a review of selected literature on service-learning pedagogy , or
  
• Participate in six hours of service-learning workshops, or
  
• Participate in a regularly scheduled service-learning reading group or seminar series.
  

4. Engaged Service or Outreach Research

Participate in a minimum of ten hours of engaged service or outreach research (e.g., provide discipline-based service or instruction to the community, create a report for a community organization or policy maker, collaborate on research that directly benefits community partners and leads to improved practice). Write a reflective essay on what you learned about engaged service or outreach research.

5. Contribution to a Community of Practice

Contribute to a community of practice that supports service-learning pedagogy and civic engagement at Illinois (e.g., share service-learning projects, course materials, and best practices with the campus community; facilitate workshops; assemble resources for service-learning courses, engaged service, or outreach research).

Certificate Application

To begin the Citizen Scholar Certificate, or to learn more about it, please contact us.

Center for Teaching Excellence
249 Armory Building, MC-528
(217) 333-3370

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All certificate requirements must be documented in the Citizen Scholar Certificate Application (pdf) in consultation with your CTE consultant and/or a faculty member. The application contains more details for completing the certificate.

The completed application must be submitted to CTE for review by your consultant. The submission deadline is April 15.

CTE Celebration of College Teaching

Through CTE’s certificate program, participants develop teaching skills, reflect on teaching and learning, and are motivated to strive for excellence in teaching. To celebrate these achievements, CTE hosts an annual event in the spring to recognize individuals who successfully complete the Citizen Scholar Certificate and other CTE certificates.

Last Updated October 5, 2007