Funded Proposals 2020-21

Campus-Level Community Engagement Strategy – Exploration Phase

The exploration phase is meant to produce a clear development phase plan for creating a Campus-Level Community Engagement & Partnership Strategy at UW Bothell. The goal of this proposal and the exploration phase is to educate ourselves, develop processes, examine data and gather input into our ability to answer to the three questions.

  1. Should UW Bothell take on a university-wide community engagement initiative?
  2. If UW Bothell were to focus its community engagement efforts on a particular topic, neighborhood or issue, could it make more of a measurable impact on the community?
  3. If the university decides to pursue an initiative, what shape and form should it take?

Capitalizing on Campus Growth for a Diverse, Community-Based Interdisciplinary Program

To capitalize on regional trends that favor the growth of Health Studies. Health-related (non-clinical) occupations are all projected to grow in Washington State through 2027. Five of the top 7 growth areas are all included in our areas of expertise (mental health, community health, survey research, health leadership, forensics).

  1. Incrementally support, through increased faculty over a 3-year period, the rapidly growing BA in Health Studies to position it for a launch of an M.S. in 2023-2024, and
  2. Support the anticipated post-COVID years of growth in health studies that will bring growth in health-related fieldwork across schools, expand cross-school focused strategic partnership opportunities in health with the Office of Community-Based Learning and Research.

Culture of Compassion and Care – Holistic Well Being

The goal of this proposal is to demonstrate in resources and actions, that as an institution we value every faculty and staff member and intend to create a campus-wide culture of compassion and care by supporting their holistic well-being.

  1. Leaders balancing and supporting their faculty and staff’s well-being while also expecting accountability and productivity.
  2. People feel valued, recognized and respected.
  3. There is a stronger, more robust campus community and interpersonal connections.
  4. People identify a greater sense of belonging and describe feeling a part of the UW Bothell campus community.

Saint Edward State Park – Environmental Education & Research Center

The goal of this project is to respond to the urgent and growing need for interdisciplinary, community engaged, and socially just education, research, and leadership in environmental and human health, sustainability, and environmental equity. To address these needs, this proposal requests funds for the start-up, programming, and initial activities of a new, sustainable, university-led Environmental Education and Research Center (EERC). UW Bothell, with its mission, values, culture, personnel, and core strengths is uniquely positioned to lead this effort, and the EERC can serve as a flagship feature of the university. Support from the Investment fund will allow UW Bothell to realize this potential.

  1. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have emerged as central concerns in all aspects of environmental issues, and they are cornerstones of all EERC activities. The site of the EERC itself is a uniquely accessible natural site. Our research initiative will provide the support needed for all interested community members to participate in research in their neighborhood, and will include 2 programmatic research to assess EERC performance with respect to DEI. Our education and community engagement initiatives will build upon our existing connections with Native American communities.
  2. Community Engagement permeates all aspects of our program, including all education and research activities, putting the ideals of Carnegie Community Engagement Classification into practice in important and visible ways.
  3. Interdisciplinarity – The enthusiastic response of diverse UWB faculty is emblematic of the broad engagement that the proposed EERC will have across campus; co-applicants on this proposal include faculty from three UW Bothell schools (IAS, STEM, Educational Studies), and faculty from all five schools have expressed strong support.