The University's Office for Public Engagement administers public engagement awards that recognize the breadth and depth of community-engaged research, teaching, and service across the University system.
The dealine has passed for 2025 awards. Nomination requirements for each award can be found in the below links.
Award categories
Community-Engaged Scholar Awards
- President’s Community-Engaged Scholar Award
This career award recognizes one scholar for exemplary community-engaged scholarship in their respective field(s) of inquiry. The President's award is the highest recognition for community-engaged scholarship at the University of Minnesota.
- Community-Engaged Scholar Award: Research and Creative Activities
This award recognizes one scholar annually for exemplary community-engaged scholarship in their respective field(s) of inquiry.
- Community-Engaged Scholar Award: Teaching and Learning
This award recognizes one instructor annually for exemplary community-engaged teaching in their respective field(s) of inquiry.
- Community-Engaged Scholar Award: Early Career
This award recognizes one early-career scholar annually for exemplary community-engaged scholarship in their respective field(s) of inquiry.
- Community-Engaged Scholar Award: Graduate Student
This award recognizes one graduate student annually for exemplary community-engaged scholarship connected to their field of study.
- Community-Engaged Scholar Award: Undergraduate Student
This award recognizes one undergraduate student annually for exemplary community-engaged scholarship connected to their field of study.
- President’s Community-Engaged Scholar Award
Exemplary Community-Engaged Professional Award
This award recognizes an individual staff member for an exemplary community-engaged program or project.
Exemplary University-Community Partnership Award
This award recognizes one project/program annually for exemplary community-university that embodies the University of Minnesota’s public engagement definition: “The partnership of university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.”
Societal Impact Award
This award recognizes an individual researcher, a collaboration among individuals, or a particular research project or program for exemplary academically-based community-engaged service and outreach.