The Center for Engaged Democracy is located within Merrimack College’s School of Education. The Center develops, coordinates, and supports academic programs around the country that are focused on civic and community engagement. The Center supports such academic programs through a variety of initiatives for faculty, administrators, and community partners. There are currently over fifty academic programs focused on community engagement.
The Center was founded in 2010 by Dan Sarofian-Butin. His research and academic work for over five years has been focused on the argument for the institutionalization of community engagement in higher education. He says that we need to reconceptualize the service-learning movement as an intellectual movement to make meaningful connections between colleges and communities and expand on the notion of an engaged campus. This shows the need to develop an "academic home" meaning academic programs such as majors, minors, certificates and interdisciplinary programs. His research is the reason for the development of this central research and action hub to develop, coordinate, and support academic programs that are focused on community engagement.
The Center is currently compiling existing research and documentation to support new and developing programs. The document repository has the following resources:
Strategic Planning ResourcesCourse Catalog ResourceKey Texts in Community EngagementSyllabus ResourceThe repository is currently housed on the Center for Engaged Democracy website.
An outcome of the 3rd Annual Summer Institute was a working paper in the Center for Engaged Democracy's Policy Papers Series, entitled Core Competencies In Civic Engagement. Developed by individuals from seven institutions and organizations the working paper synthesizes existing program competencies and resources for the community engagement field. The goal of this initiative remains to distill common competencies and propose a suggested list of core competencies for academic programs. The Core Competencies specifically address the following questions:
What are the learning outcomes for academic programs in "community engagement"?What knowledge, skills, and dispositions should students have demonstrated by the end of their academic programs?How should these competencies differ across diverse programs - certificates, minors, and majors?The Center sponsors a yearly summer research institute for departments and academic programs. This conference brings together scholars, students, and community participants to engage critical questions of what it means in higher education to have an “academic home” for community engagement. In June 2011, the 2nd Annual Summer Research Institute hosted Keynote Speaker Benjamin Barber. The 3rd annual summer conference was held on June 23–24 at the campus of Merrimack College
In September 2011, the Center had a Call for Proposals for research on academic programs in community engagement. This request was to advance the research on academic programs in community engagement.
Rick Battistoni (Providence College), Arthur Keene (University of Massachusetts Amherst), Tania Mitchell (Stanford University), and John Reiff (University of Massachusetts Amherst) received the Center’s first research grant. Their research project is called Educating for Democratic Leadership in Three Multi-Year, Development, Cohort-Based Civic Engagement Programs. This project will investigate the long-term impacts of sustained, developmental community action programs at Providence College, Stanford University and the University of Massachusetts to understand how these programs influence civic identity and civic action and promote democratic leadership after college. Their findings will be presented at the 2012 summer research institute
Liz Hollander is a Senior Fellow at Tisch College at Tufts University.Ari Hoy is Vice President for Program and Resource Development for the Bonner Foundation.Peter Levine is Director of CIRLCE, The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement and is Research Director of Tufts University’s Jonathan Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service.Elizabeth Minnich is a Senior Scholar, Association of American Colleges & Universities: Office of Diversity, Equity, and Global Initiatives.Aaron Schutz is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Policy and Community Studies at The University of Vermont.Byron White is the Vice President for University Engagement at Cleveland State University.This information comes from Merrimack College School of Education
Alverno College: Community LeadershipBryant University: Sociology and Service-LearningEmory and Henry College: Public Policy and Community ServiceGuilford College: Community and Justice StudiesMercer University: Program in Social EntrepreneurshipNorthern Illinois University: Community Leadership and Civic EngagementProvidence College: Public and Community Service StudiesUniversity of Baltimore: Community Studies and Civic EngagementUniversity of California,Irvine: Public and Community ServiceUniversity of Connecticut: Urban and Community StudiesUniversity of Maine - Machias: Psychology and Community StudiesUniversity of Massachusetts - Boston: Community StudiesUniversity of Texas at Austin: Youth and Community StudiesUniversity of the Pacific: Community Service LearningWartburg College: Community SociologyAllegheny College: Values, Ethics and Social ActionAssumption College: Community Service-LearningAuburn University: Community and Civic EngagementCabrini College: Social JusticeCalifornia State University, Monterey Bay: Service Learning LeadershipColorado School of Mines: Humanitarian EngineeringConcord University: Civic EngagementDePaul University: Community Service StudiesDominican University: Social Justice and Civic EngagementEmory University: Community Building and Social ChangeGuilford College: Community StudiesHobart and William Smith Colleges: Public ServiceHumboldt: Leadership StudiesIllinois State University: Civic Engagement & ResponsibilityIndiana University: Leadership, Ethics, and Social ActionMary Baldwin College: Civic EngagementMetropolitan State University - Twin Cities: Civic EngagementMiami University: Community Based LeadershipMontclair State University: Leadership Development Through Civic EngagementPortland State University: Civic LeadershipSan Jose State University: Service-LearningSimmons College: Social JusticeSlippery Rock University: Community Service and Service-LearningSt. Catherine's University: Civic EngagementState University of New York - Buffalo State: Understanding Community, Diversity, and PeaceState University of New York Stony Brook: Community Service-LearningTusculum College: Civic EngagementUCLA: Civic EngagementUniversity of Indianapolis: Civic Engagement and Community LeadershipUniversity of Massachusetts - Dartmouth: Leadership and Civic EngagementUniversity of Michigan: Urban StudiesUniversity of Missouri: Leadership and Public ServiceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas: Leadership and Civic EngagementUniversity of San Francisco: Public Service and Community EngagementUniversity of Wisconsin - Oshkosh: Civic EngagementWaynesburg University: Service LeadershipWhitworth University: Community Engagement and TransformationWilliam and Mary: Community StudiesBentley University: Service LearningBristol Community College: Serve Learn Lead Civic EngagementGeorge Mason U: Public and Community EngagementIndiana University - Bloomington: Political and Civic EngagementJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Community-Based Public HealthKansas City Art Institute: Community Arts and Service-LearningMadonna University: Community LeadershipMercer University: Program in Leadership and Community ServiceMurray State University: Service Learning ScholarsNorthwestern University: Civic EngagementSaint Louis University: Service LeadershipSalt Lake Community College: Civically Engaged ScholarUniversity of Alaska - Anchorage: Civic EngagementUniversity of Georgia: Interdisciplinary in Leadership & ServiceUniversity of Illinois - Chicago: Chicago Civic Leadership Certificate ProgramUniversity of Kansas: Service Learning (in Leadership Studies Minor)University of Massachusetts - Amherst: Citizen Scholars ProgramUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln: Civic EngagementUniversity of North Carolina - Chapel Hill: Public Service Scholars ProgramUniversity of Pittsburgh: Civic Engagement and Community ServiceUniversity of Southern California: Graduate Certificate in Civic EngagementUniversity of Wisconsin - Parkside: Community Based LearningUniversity of Wisconsin - Milwaukee: Community LeadershipUniversity of Wisconsin - River Falls: CertificateVanderbilt University: Community Leadership and DevelopmentWest Chester University: Leadership and Civic EngagementWestern Kentucky University: Citizenship & Social ResponsibilityDr. Dan Sarofian-Butin is the founder of the Center for an Engaged Democracy and the founding deaan of the School of Education and an Associate Professor at Merrimack College. He is also the editor and author of more than sixty academic publications. His research focuses on community engagement and also issues of education preparation and policy. Prior to working in higher education, Dr. Butin was a middle school math and science teacher and the chief financial officer of Teach for America.
Butin, D. W. 2010. “So Close and Yet So Far To Go: A Review of Teacher Education, Diversity, and Community Engagement in Liberal Arts Colleges” in Teachers College Record, 10/28/2010.Butin, D. W. 2010. “Can I Major in Service-Learning? An Empirical Analysis of Majors, Minors, and Certificates”, Journal of College and Character, 11(2).Butin, D. W. 2010. Service-Learning in Theory and Practice: The Future of Community Engagement in Higher Education. NY: Palgrave. (Read chapter 1)Butin, D. W. 2010. “Service-Learning as an Intellectual Movement: The Need for an ‘Academic Home’ and Critique for the Community Engagement Movement.” In Problematizing Service-Learning: Critical Reflections for Development and Action, edited by Trae Stewart & Nicole Webster. Information Age Publishing.Butin, D. W. 2009. “A Review of Service-Learning and the Liberal Arts” Learning and Teaching: The International Journal of Higher Education in the Social Sciences.Butin, D. W. 2008. Editor. Service-Learning and Social Justice Education. New York: Routledge.Butin, D. W. 2008. “Service-Learning” In Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education, edited by Eugene F. Provenzo, Jr. NY: SAGE Publications.Butin, D. W. 2008. “Justice Learning: Service-Learning as Justice-Oriented Education” in D. W. Butin (Ed.) Service-Learning and Social Justice Education. NY: Routledge.Butin, D. W. 2008. “Saving the University on His Own Time: Stanley Fish, Service-Learning, and Knowledge Legitimation in the Academy” Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning.Butin, D. W. 2007. “Rethinking Engagement: Strengthening Faculty Buy-In to Community Engagement.” Change, Nov/Dec., 2007. pp. 34–37.Butin, D. W. 2006. Guest Editor. “Future Directions for Service-Learning in Higher Education”, International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 18(1).Butin, D. W. 2006. “The Limits of Service-Learning in Higher Education”, The Review of Higher Education, 29(4). pp. 473–498.Butin, D. W. 2006. “Special Issue Introduction: Future Directions for Service-Learning in Higher Education”, International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 18(1). pp. 1–4.Butin, D. W. 2006. “Disciplining Service-Learning: Institutionalization and the Case for Community Studies”, International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 18(1). pp. 57–64.Butin, D. W. 2005. Editor. Service-Learning in Higher Education: Critical Issues and Directions. New York: Palgrave.Butin, D. W. 2003. “Of What Use Is It?: Multiple Conceptualizations of Service-Learning in Education”, In Teachers College Record, 105(9), pp. 1674–1692.BOOKS and MONOGRAPHS
Butin, D. W. Series Editor. Critical Studies in Community Engagement in Higher Education. NY: Palgrave.Butin, D. W. and S. Seider. (In Press). The Engaged Campus: Majors, Minors, and Certificates as the New Community Engagement. NY: Palgrave.Butin, D. W. (2010). The Education Dissertation: A Guide for Practitioner Scholars. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. (here is the table of contents)Provenzo, E. F., Butin, D. W., and Angelini, A. (2008). 100 Experiential Learning Activities for Social Studies, Literature, and the Arts. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.Butin, D. W. (2005). Editor. Teaching Social Foundations of Education: Contexts, Theories, and Issues. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers.BOOK CHAPTERS, ARTICLES & ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRIES
Butin, D. W. (Forthcoming). “Yes, Service-Learning Works...But For Whom? The Politics and Power Dynamics of Community Engagement in Higher Education.” Theory into Practice.Butin, D. W. (Forthcoming). “Democracy in Doubt: A Critical Examination of K-12 Service-Learning” in Enriching the Curriculum and Promoting Diversity Through Service-Learning, edited by R. Simmons and Valerie Hill-Jackson. Stylus Publishing.Butin, D. W. (In Press). “Rethinking the ‘Apprenticeship of Liberty’: The Case for Academic Programs in Community Engagement in Higher Education” Journal of College & Character.Butin, D. W.and N. Pianko. (In Press). “Jewish Studies and Service-Learning in Higher Education: What Each Can Gain From the Other.” Journal of Jewish Communal Service.Butin, D. W. and S. Seider. (In Press). “The Future of Community Engagement in Higher Education” Journal of College & Character.Butin, D. W. (2009/2000). National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities. Published a set of overviews on classroom design and educational facilities: “Early Childhood Centers”, “General Classrooms”, “Health Centers”, “Library Media Centers”, “Multi-Purpose Space”, “Science Facilities”, “Student Commons”, “Teacher Workspaces”, Washington, D.C.: available at: http://www.edfacilities.org/Butin, D. W. (2008). “Lessons from an Urban Classroom: A Review of Schultz’s Spectacular Things Happen Along the Way.” Educational Studies, 44, pp. 289–293. (page proof version is here)Butin, D. W. (2008). “Student Resistance” In Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education, edited by Eugene F. Provenzo, Jr. NY: SAGE Publications.Butin, D. W. (2007). “Civic Engagement.” In Encyclopedia of the American High School, edited by Kathryn Borman, Spencer Cahill, and Bridget Cotner. New York: Greenwood Publishing.Butin, D. W. (2007). “Dark Times Indeed: NCATE, Social Justice, and the Marginalization of Multicultural Foundations.”, Journal of Educational Controversy, 2(2). Available at: http://cedar.wwu.edu/jec/vol2/iss2/14/Butin, D. W. (2007). “Re-Reading Dewey: A Review of David Hansen’s John Dewey and Our Educational Prospect”, Education Review. Available at: http://web.archive.org/web/20100614173837/http://edrev.asu.edu/reviews/rev575.htmButin, D. W. (2006). “Putting Foucault to Work in Educational Research: A Review”, Journal of Philosophy of Education. 40(3). pp. 371–380.Butin, D. W. (2006). “The Limits of Service-Learning in Higher Education”, The Review of Higher Education, 29(4). pp. 473–498.(article is here)Butin, D. W. (2005). “Is Anyone Listening? Educational Policy Perspectives on the Social Foundations of Education”. Educational Studies, 38(3). pp. 286–297. (article is here)Butin, D. W. (2005). “’I Don’t Buy It’: Student Resistance, Social Justice, and Identity Construction”, Inventio 7(1). Available at http://web.archive.org/web/20070824100052/http://www.doit.gmu.edu/inventio/issues/Spring_2005/Butin_1.htmlButin, D. W. (2005). “Preface: Disturbing Normalizations of Service-Learning” in D. W. Butin (Ed.) Service-Learning in Higher Education: Critical Issues and Directions. Palgrave.Butin, D. W. (2005). “Service-Learning as Postmodern Pedagogy” in D. W. Butin (Ed.) Service-Learning in Higher Education: Critical Issues and Directions. Palgrave.Butin, D. W. (2005). “Introduction: Teaching Social Foundations” In D. W. Butin (Ed.) Teaching Social Foundations of Education: Contexts, Theories, and Issues. Mahwah: NJ. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Butin, D. W. (2005). “Identity (Re)Construction and Student Resistance” In D. W. Butin (Ed.) Teaching Social Foundations of Education: Contexts, Theories, and Issues. Mahwah: NJ. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Butin, D. W. (2005). “Diversity, Democracy, and Definitions: Contested Positions for the Future of the Social Foundations” In D. W. Butin (Ed.) Teaching Social Foundations of Education: Contexts, Theories, and Issues. Mahwah: NJ. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Butin, D. W. (2004). “The Foundations of Preparing Teachers: Are Education Schools Really ‘Intellectually Barren’ and Ideological?” Teachers College Record. Available at: http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentId=11349.Butin, D. W. (2002). “This Ain’t Talk Therapy: Problematizing and Extending Anti-Oppressive Education” In Educational Researcher. 31(3). pp. 14–16.Butin, D. W. (2001). “If This is Resistance I Would Hate to See Domination: Retrieving Michel Foucault’s Notion of Resistance in Educational Research” In Educational Studies, 32(2), pp. 157–176.