Community Engagement Grant Program

The Community Engagement Grant Program, housed within the Center for Public Scholarship & Social Change, is an internal grant program for faculty that aims to support costs (supplies, equipment, student wages, etc.) associated with one of the following:

  • Community-Based Research Projects: Collaborative inquiry between faculty and community members to identify, research, and solve community problems.
  • Community Impact Projects: Projects where faculty and community members work together to address problems and needs in the community.

Priority funding will be given to those conducting polling/survey research and to those address political, social, or economic issues in Lancaster County. Collaborative faculty-student projects are encouraged.

The application window for the 2023 grant is now open.

To download the application, please click here.

All applications are due by Monday, April 10th, 2023. Grantee recipients will be announced on May 5th, 2023.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the program may contact Dr. Carrie Smith.

Past Grant Recipients

  • 2020-2021

    Dr. Angela Cuthbert (Department of Geography) - An Examination of the Capacity of Lancaster County Boroughs for Refugee Settlement

    Dr. Kerri Farkas (Department of English & World Languages) - Engage for Change Journal

    Dr. Jennifer Frank (School of Social Work) - People & Places: Finding Sustainable and Human Rights-Oriented Approaches to Homelessness in Lancaster

    Heidi Leitzke (Department of Art & Design) - Reservoir Park Mural Project

    Dr. Deborah Tamakloe (Department of Early, Middle, & Exceptional Education) and Dr. Karen Rice (School of Social Work) - Growing Global Champions

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  • 2018-2019

    Dr. Jennifer Frank, Dr. Laura Granruth, Dr. Heather Girvin, and Brittany Leffler - Paper Trails: Using Correspondence to Create Authentic Community Connections, Building Empathy, and Decrease Social Isolation

    Dr. Laura Granruth, Dr. Jennifer Frank, and Christopher Thomas - Living the Best Life Possible: Program Evaluation of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Resident Services

    Dr. Deborah Tamakloe - Accessibility for All: Enhancing the Curriculum with Assistive Technology (AT)

    Dr. Miriam Witmer and Dr. Jiff Wimer - Color of Teaching Summer Academy III

    Dr. Jessica Hughes - Making an Impact: A Service Learning Project and Camus Event

    Dr. Jennifer Frank, Dr. Karen Rice, Dr. Laura Granruth, and Christopher Thomas - Fresh, Healthy, and Sustainable: Campus Connections to Address Student Hunger

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  • 2017-2018

    Dr. Richard L. Mehrenberg - Aaron's Acres Adult Recreational Program Feasibility Study

    Dr. Aaron Haines - A Community-Based Research Project to Survey Rare Bat Species in Lancaster, PA Using Citizen Science

    Dr. Jill Craven and Dr. Kevin Ghaffari - Demystifying Dyslexia: A Resource Day

    Dr. Jennifer Frank - Developing Partnerships to Create Community: The Loft as a HUB of Connection

    Dr. Deborah Tamakloe - Project a Child's Voice: Training for CASA Volunteers

    Dr. Miriam Witmer and Dr. Jeff Wimer - Project Teacher Development: A Community-University Collaboration

    Dr. Laura Brierton Granruth and Dr. Jennifer Frank - The Road Home Training Initiative Evaluation

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  • 2016-2017

    Dr. Caleb Corkery and Dr. Julie Pyle Childs - Millersville University Story Telling Experience (MUSE), School District of Lancaster

    Dr. Theresa Russell-Loretz - Video Production for WORLD (We Orchestrate Real Literacy        Development) and the Ore Valley Elementary School

    Dr. Carrie Smith and Dr. Laura Granruth - Developing a Taxonomy of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly Cases, Lancaster County District Attorney's Office

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  • 2015-2016

    Drs. Louise Manfredi and Mark Atwater – Engineering Solutions for the Economically Disadvantaged in Lancaster County

    Drs. Laura Brierton Granruth and Carrie Smith – Developing Taxonomy of Successful Outcomes in Primary Financial Exploitation Elder Abuse Cases

    Dr. Changfu Chang – Lancaster Safety Coalition Promotional Video

    Dr. Stacey Irwin – Project Green Lancaster 2.0

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  • 2014-2015

    Dr. Tracey Weis and Marilyn Parrish – "Together for Good" Oral History project celebrating 125th Anniversary of the YWCA Lancaster

    Dr. Charles Geiger - Creating historical interactive maps of the Rockford Plantation

    Dr. Ronal Frankum and  Monica Spiese - Conestoga Area Historical Society

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  • 2013- 2014

    Dr. Nadine Garner – Nurturing the Seeds of Sustainability: Growing the American Dream

    Duane Hagelgans - Emergency Operations Plan for Manor Township and Millersville Borough: Blue Rock Regional Emergency Management Agency

    Karen Rice and Lenora Foels - Institute of Global Well Being and Social Change

    Richard L. Mehrenberg - “Homefield’s Insect Hotels”  (Visit Homefields.org) 

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  • 2011-2012

    Dr. Theresa A. Russell-Loretz - Public Relations Faculty
    Preparation of Students for Team Collaboration in Service-Learning Projects

    Dr. Gregory Dennis Paul - Course Development for Incoming Freshmen on Civil Dialogue, Conflict Management, and Justice

    Robert Eugene Ellis - Course Development Conflict Management and Justice

    Stacey O. Irwin - Project Green Lancaster

    Dr. Nadine Garner & Dr. Jason Baker - Interviewing School Counselors Regarding Implementation of National Models

    Dr. Kathleen Walsh & Miriam M. Witmer - Engaged Scholar's Program

    Dr. Kimberly Heilshorn - Centerville Elementary School "Math Day" for Gifted Students

    Mark Snyder - Classroom Service Learning with Local Non-Profit Organizations

    Dr. Timothy Shea - University Writing Center and Engaged Scholars Program

    Dr. Christine M.M.Gaudry-Hudson - Regional Representative for AATF Region III and Millersville French Club

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  • 2010-2011

    Dr. Elizabeth Thyrum - Examining the Influence of Service Learning Projects on Students' Empathy, Understanding of Illness, & Motivation for Volunteerism

    Dr. Tim Mahoney - Philadelphia Urban Seminar

    Dr. Theresa Russell-Loretz - Engaged scholars Progra

    Robert Eugene Ellis - Course Development Conflict Management and Justice

    Dr. Gregory Dennis Paul - Course Development for Incoming Freshmen on Civil Dialogue, Conflict Management, and Justice

    Dr. Cheryl Desmond - Engaged Scholars Program

    Dr. Kimberly Heilshorn - Manheim Township "Math Day"

    Dr. Victoria Weaver - Partnership with Janus School

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