Vanderbilt University invites faculty, students, staff and community collaborators to submit proposals for the inaugural Bridging Campus and Community: Community Engagement Symposium, taking place Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon on Vanderbilt’s campus.
This event will celebrate collaborations that connect teaching, research, creative work and service with the public good. Proposals should highlight projects that strengthen learning, spark innovation and demonstrate the impact of community-engaged work across Middle Tennessee and beyond.
The poster-style symposium will provide an opportunity to share work with colleagues, partners and university leaders.
Who should apply
- Undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and student organizations
- Faculty, researchers and staff from all schools and centers
- Community partners collaborating with Vanderbilt teams
Proposals may highlight
- Course-based community-engaged learning projects
- Research-practice partnerships and participatory or action research
- Creative works, public humanities and arts-based collaborations
- Public service, policy, health, environmental and civic initiatives
- Emerging pilots, long-term programs, or lessons learned from partnership
Proposals should include
- Title and brief description
- Names and affiliations of presenters, including community partners when applicable
- Learning objectives connected to community-engaged scholarship
Key dates
Symposium: Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 10 a.m.–noon
Proposal deadline: March 20, 2026
About the organizers
The symposium is presented by Vanderbilt’s Division of Government and Community Relations in partnership with the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy, Vanderbilt’s Program in Culture, Advocacy, and Leadership and the Vanderbilt Community Engagement Collaborative faculty working group.