Registration is now open for the University of Minnesota's 2026 Engaged Scholars Summer Institute, a professional development opportunity for University faculty, staff, and postdoctoral associates seeking to increase their understanding of community-engaged scholarship.

This year's event will take place on July 15-17 at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center in North Minneapolis.

The institute offers a supportive network in which University faculty, staff, Extension educators, and post-doctoral fellows from throughout the University's five-campus system can explore and develop core skills needed for authentic and effective community-engaged scholarship. Participants can expect feature presentations, panel discussions, practice sessions, and interactive exercises focused on the basics of building partnerships, making sense of diverse systems of knowledge and experience, and exploring how these knowledge systems are put into practice.

Registration information

Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The first 60 registrants will be notified of their successful registration. Subsequent registrants will be notified that they have been waitlisted. 

• Standard Registration (Apr 25 - Jun 30, 2026) - $150

All course materials are included in registration fee.

Registration Closes on Jun 30, 2026.

Refund Policy

All registrations include a $25 non-refundable processing fee. Refund requests received on or before May 31, 2026 will receive a full refund minus a non-refundable $25 processing fee. Refund requests received between June 1-22, 2026 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be given on or after June 23, 2026.

Meals and Travel

All travel expenses (lodging, parking, and travel to the Twin Cities campus) will be covered by participants. Breakfast and lunch is covered by the Institute. Meeting breaks will include coffee and snacks.

Location, Lodging, and Parking

The 2026 Engaged Scholars Summer Institute will be held at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center in North Minneapolis (2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411). There is no reserved block of rooms; if you need hotel recommendations please email: cearch@umn.edu. 

Agenda

July 15
10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Registration and Welcome activities
Lunch
1:15-2 p.m. CEARCH Practices
2-3 p.m. Dangers of a Single Story
3:15 p.m. TBD
Evening Reception - Dinner provided

July 16
8 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m. Participatory Activity
9:45-10:45 a.m. Community Advisory Boards
10:45-11:45 a.m. Breakouts
Lunch
12:45-1:45 p.m. Compensating Community Partners
2-3 p.m. Engaged Dissemination
3:10-4:15 p.m. Breakouts
4:15-4:30 p.m. Planning for tomorrow

July 17
8 a.m. Breakfast
9-11:15 a.m. ProAction Cafe sessions
11:30-12:45 p.m. Reflection activities
12:45-2 p.m. Lunch and closing

U of M Partners

Office for Public Engagement

UROC

CEARCH

Contacts

Event information: Sydney Lemire, lemire@umn.edu

Registration questions: OPE Office, ope@umn.edu

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