The Community Engagement & Volunteer Center (CEVC) offers mini grants of up to $250 per faculty member to support community engaged learning (CEL) and scholarship. These funds are designed to enhance student learning through meaningful partnerships and real-world experiences that benefit both students and the community.

Mini grants may be used for: 

• Project materials and supplies
• Community partner resources (e.g., honoraria, event support)
• Transportation for community-based activities
• Registration for CEL-focused conferences 

• Funds must be processed as a departmental transfer
• All expenditures must comply with JMU and state spending policies and regulations 

To apply, email Jenna Piersol (piersojm@jmu.edu) with: 

• A brief description of your project or travel
• The contact information for your department administrator 

In our first year offering faculty mini grants for community engaged learning, the CEVC awarded a total of $2,600 to 10 faculty members to support the design and implementation of new or enhanced community engaged learning experiences. 

We are pleased to recognize the following recipients and their impactful work: 

Project: Off-Campus Research Presentation & Experiential Learning Support 

Community Partners: Carver Food Enterprise Center; Cross Keys Equine Therapy 

Description: Funding supports experiential learning through transportation, community partner honoraria, and materials for off-campus research poster presentations across multiple classes. The project also includes potential development of design prototypes and professional presentation materials. 

Course: WRTC 480: Writing for Business and Industry 

Community Partner: Augusta County 

Description: Funding supports a community guest speaker honorarium and a final student presentation event that includes feedback and engagement with the partner organization. 

Project: Girls Have HEART Program 

Community Partner: Waterman Elementary School (Harrisonburg City Public Schools) 

Description: Supports an after-school running program for 4th and 5th grade students. JMU students design and implement an 11-week curriculum, integrating fitness and confidence-building. Funding provides program t-shirts for participants. 

Project: BOOST Conference Participation 

Community Partner: Gus Bus 

Description: Funding supports conference registration for the BOOST Conference, focused on strengthening community engagement and youth-centered learning. Participation provides professional development, strategies, and networking aligned with CEL. 

Project: EmpowHER Program Focus Groups 

Community Partner: Morrison Bruce Center 

Description: Funding supports a community-based research initiative tied to a women’s strength training program. Resources are used for a community dinner and focus groups exploring participant experiences, with findings informing future programming and research. 

Project: Service-Learning Study Abroad (Dominican Republic) 

Community Partner: Elementary School in the Dominican Republic 

Description: Supports educational activities for an elementary school during a long-standing service-learning study abroad program.  

Project: Community Health Engagement Activities 

Community Partners: Gus Bus; Massanutten Public Library 

Description: Funding supports continued collaboration on community-based health programming, including wellness events and health screenings conducted by nursing students. 

Project: Community-Court Connection Poster & Conference 

Community Engagement Activity: Hampton Roads Social Justice Conference 

Description: Funding supports printing and presentation materials, conference registration, and travel for student and faculty participation in a social justice-focused conference. 

Project: Transportation for Community-Based Student Projects 

Community Partners: Central Shenandoah Health District; Page Free Clinic; Healthy Community Health Center; VA Department of Health; Pleasant View; Friendly City Safe Space; New Community Project: Jubilee Climate Farm; Therapy and Beyond 

Description: Funding supports transportation for student site visits supporting projects related to maternal health, mental health, clinic workflows, patient outreach, and community-based initiatives. 

Project: FIRST Program Equipment & Outreach 

Community Partner: FIRST Program 

Description: Funding supports replacement of instructional equipment (iPad mounts, tripods, lens attachments) and community outreach materials, including a promotional banner for public engagement events. 

The CEVC Faculty Mini Grant program reflects a growing commitment to community engaged learning at JMU, supporting: 

• Faculty innovation in teaching and scholarship
• Student access to applied, real-world experiences
• Reciprocal partnerships that benefit our broader community 

We encourage faculty across all disciplines to consider applying in future cycles.