Office of Community Engagement

The Office of Community Engagement at the University of Iowa serves as a bridge between the university and the community. We facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between faculty, staff, students, and community partners across our state, nation, and world. We offer trainings, workshops, and provide informational resources and expertise that empowers faculty, staff, and students to transform their teaching, learning, and research to make lasting change and a positive impact in our communities.

Undergraduate Engagement Corps Program Began January 2025

OCE's newest program, the UEC, began January 2025. The program is for all undergraduate UI students interested in addressing critical societal problems, improving quality of life, and being an engaged citizen!

Apply for the 2025 Faculty Engagement Corps

The OCE is excited to open applications for our 2025 Faculty Engagement Corps (FEC). The FEC Orientation will cover principles and practices of community-engaged teaching and community-engaged research and will include a variety of interactive sessions.

Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement

Over the next year, OCE and a Leadership Committee of faculty and staff will work to gather data from across campus and assemble a successful re-classification application to Carnegie.

GEC 2025 Cohort Orientation

We were thrilled to get to know our new GEC students during a three-day workshop in January. With guest speakers, breakout sessions, and project development, students developed skills in community engagement. These graduate students are enthusiastic and looking forward to engaging with community partners!

How to Be a Public Artist

Public artist workshop led by college graduate

Artist and UI lecturer Ali Hval leads students enrolled in the How to Be a Public Artist workshop on a tour around downtown Iowa City, showcasing her Scribble Trees and other public artwork!

Graduate Engagement Corps

Community Engagement Network

Faculty Engagement Corps

Upcoming Events

5th Annual BioBlitz at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

Saturday, July 12, 2025 9:00am to 11:00am

Ashton Cross Country Course

What types of plants, animals, and fungal life might you find at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory? Let's find out! Join researchers in collecting, observing, and recording biodiversity at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory in our 5th Annual BioBlitz. Your findings will inform a major research project and will contribute to the fifth data point in a multi-year documentation of how diversity changes at this site over time. Collections will be housed with the UI Museum of Natural History...

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