The Office of Community Engagement and Outreach (OCEO) supports the UT community in building and sustaining mutual, reciprocal community-university partnerships.
OCEO connects UT with a diverse group of community partners; provides seed funding for new community engagement projects; hosts professional development workshops and networking events to foster interdisciplinary collaboration; and encourages student engagement through research, service, and experience learning.
Engagement and Outreach
Guided by a commitment to mutually beneficial relationships and shared goals, community engagement is the collaborative exchange of knowledge and resources between higher education institutions and their communities at local, regional, national, and global levels.
Effective community engagement creates avenues for applying academic expertise to address real-world challenges while also enriching scholarship through community-based experiences and perspectives.
Community-Engaged Scholarship
Community-engaged scholarship encompasses research and academic endeavors conducted in partnership with non-academic organizations, community members, and local practitioners. This collaborative approach enhances the visibility and understanding of pertinent issues while empowering communities to influence decisions affecting their lives, towns, cities, and neighborhoods.
By integrating academic expertise with grassroots perspectives and experiences, community-engaged scholarship yields insights that are more relevant and actionable for addressing real-world challenges.
Faculty Recruitment and Retention
Given faculty constitute the foundation of any academic institution, shaping the quality of education, research, and the overall intellectual atmosphere, the attraction and retention of top faculty talent is paramount for sustaining academic excellence, advancing knowledge, and providing student with a transformative learning journey.
Effective faculty recruitment and retention strategies empower institutions to cultivate inclusive excellence and focus on highly qualified scholars, fostering an environment conductive to innovation, mentorship, and intellectual advancement.
How can we serve you?
OCEO can help you and your team
- Identify interdisciplinary research
- Connect you with community partners
- Plan and help secure funding
- Share your impact with the world