Since 2009, the Office of the Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement has offered the Graduate Certification in Community Engagement to Michigan State University graduate and graduate professional students interested in integrating scholarship with community engagement. Coordinated by MSU’s Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship, in partnership with the Graduate School, this noncredit professional development program is designed to develop scholarly, respectful, and systemic approaches to community engagement, including community-engaged research, creative activities, teaching and learning, service and practice, and/or commercialized activities.

To earn the Graduate Certification in Community Engagement, students must complete three requirements:

• Core competency seminars (or approved alternatives)
• Mentored community engagement experience
• Written engagement portfolio and presentation

The program’s 20 core competencies are organized around an eight-dimension framework, comprised of:

• Foundations and Variations
• Community Partnerships
• Critical Reflection
• Community-Engaged Scholarship and Practice
• Approaches and Perspectives
• Evaluation and Assessment
• Communications and Scholarly Skills
• Successful Community Engagement Careers

Students who fulfill all requirements receive an official notation on their academic transcript, a certificate of completion from MSU’s Office of the Registrar, and a letter of congratulations from the Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement.

Applications for annual cohort admission are welcome from students in any MSU graduate degree program. Information about the certification program is available, at: https://gradcert.engage.msu.edu/.