Office of Community Engagement

Helping Hawkeyes impact Iowa communities through community-engaged teaching, learning, and research.

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

An Artist's Life (Before, During and After Iowa) | Artist Talk by Bruce Dorfman

Thursday, March 27, 2025 6:30pm to 8:00pm

Stanley Museum of Art

Join us at the Stanley Museum of Art for a talk featuring artist and UIowa alumnus, Bruce Dorfman. Three works by Dorfman will be on view in the Visual Classroom. About the artist: Bruce Dorfman has had 60 solo exhibitions in New York, across the U.S.and abroad. He is represented by: June Kelly Gallery, NYC; Carrie Chen Gallery, Great Barrington, MA; and Elizabeth Clement Fine Art, Boston/Miami/NYC, where he will continue to have solo exhibitions during 2025. His very first solo exhibition...

Song*Lines Project: Cross-Pollination

Sunday, March 30, 2025 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Stanley Museum of Art

How do we feel for and lift up the soul of a place? How do we intentionally weave together those who are stoking it, in rest + play + dreaming? How does the ancient, simple act of singing together remind us what our bones already know? How does this humble, collective music-making feed Life and the land that gives us home?

SONGLINES | Song Circle with Lyndsey Scott

Sunday, March 30, 2025 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Stanley Museum of Art

Join artist Lyndsey Scott at the Stanley Museum of Art as she leads an uplifting singing circle in the galleries as part of her SONGLINES Project. As the 2024-2025 Grant Wood Fellow in the field of Interdisciplinary Performance—Music, Lyndsey Scott is hosting a series of song circles across Iowa City as part of her Grant Wood Project. The Stanley Museum of Art is the fifth stop in her series of eight, with the final one culminating in a "Big Sing." The theme of the evening will be cross...

SONG*LINES: Song Circle with Lyndsey Scott

Sunday, March 30, 2025 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Stanley Museum of Art

Join us at the Stanley Museum of Art for an uplifting singing circle in the lobby on Sunday, March 30, from 2-4 pm . The Stanley Museum of Art is the 5th stop of the SONG*LINES Project, a series of local song circles hosted by Grant Wood Fellow Lyndsey Scott to nourish the thriving of local community-building organizations and cross-pollinate new connections. Simple songs will be taught on the spot and refreshments will be provided. All voices are welcome! Register here. Lyndsey Scott is a...

Song*Lines Project: Land Connection

Sunday, April 13, 2025 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Johnson County Poor Farm

Song*Lines Project: People Power

Sunday, April 27, 2025 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Iowa City Bike Library

Song*Lines Project: Big Sing at Old Brick

Sunday, May 4, 2025 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Old Brick Church

Eight Over 80 Awards

Thursday, May 8, 2025 11:00am

As Hawkeyes, we give back throughout our lives. We're leaders in our professions. We're generous with our time and talent. We're passionate about things we love — especially anything black and gold. And some Hawkeyes continue to make an impact well beyond retirement. That's why we are honoring Iowa alumni, age 80 and over, who carry the Hawkeye spirit of achievement and continue to help others. Nominate a Hawkeye for this award: https://www.foriowa.org/eight-over-80/

5th Annual BioBlitz at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

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

Ashton Cross Country Course

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. Registration is required + free. Sign up link is here: https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3RaoXgJhPGcbDTw

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