For over 150 years, public research universities have advanced public interest through education, innovation, and community engagement. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has created an initiative to promote the continuation of these values while modernizing them to give a greater consideration to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. A subsection of this initiative is the Action Framework, a guidance document offering evidence-based strategies for university leaders to “incentivize, recognize, and promote publicly engaged scholarship.” It categorizes each strategic action by role and responsibility within the university, providing clear steps for advancing publicly-engaged and publicly impactful research.
This framework highlights eight “overarching areas for strategic action” for academic institutions:
- Develop committed institutional leaders
- Reform appointment, retention, tenure, and promotion practices
- Invest in institutional structures and networks
- Establish stronger reporting structures at the institutional level
- Build capacity for engagement and equity work among faculty
- Launch and maintain catalytic funding programs
- Develop awards and programs to recognize and celebrate work
- Formalize curricular training and professional development opportunities for students
The report also offers case studies and key learnings from institutions which have successfully implemented these strategies on their own campuses. Supplementary materials include a searchable database of 70+ research-informed tactics for university leaders and change agents within each of the eight strategic actions.
Aurbach, E. L., Kennedy, H., Redd, K., Bennett, J., & Gobstein, H. (2023). Modernizing Scholarship for the Public Good: An Action Framework for Public Research Universities. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/uekpb