George Mason University has submitted its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), "Transformative Education through Anti-Racist Community Engagement," to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), as part of its upcoming reaffirmation of accreditation. The plan, which focuses on student learning and student success connected to community engagement, civic learning, and anti-racism, has led to the launch of the Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning (CECiL).
CECiL reflects the strengths of civic engagement by organizing and engaging academic and co-curricular opportunities across Mason and with the surrounding community. The office will help position students and faculty to respond to current social issues through the development of programs for undergraduates, graduates, faculty and community partners. Other goals include expanding students’ understanding of anti-racism through community and civic engagement and increasing opportunities for students to participate in anti-racist community engaged courses and experiences.
CECiL will provide central coordination of engagement projects and infrastructure support for community work—all of which will align with the efforts of the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force.
“We are excited to formally launch CECiL and build upon the great work already taking place at Mason and in our communities,” said Kristen Wright, director of civic engagement.
Shauna Rigaud has been named the office’s associate director of student programs. In this role, she will focus on developing and implementing high-impact student community-engaged experiences in collaboration with community partners.
“With a centralized office in community engagement, Mason can make a greater impact across the university and the wider community,” Rigaud said. “We have the opportunity to set the stage and be the model for what sustainable, equitable and reciprocal relationships look like between the community and a university.”
For the next several months, the office will host information sessions for faculty, community partners, and students regarding how to get involved with CECIL. The first faculty information sessions will be held Tuesday, March 8, at 3 p.m. and Monday, March 28, at noon via Zoom.
An event for graduate and professional students, “Community Engagement: The Why and How for Mason Graduate Students,” will be held at noon Tuesday, March 31, in Fenwick Library Main Reading Room.