Our Story
The UVU Center Engaged Learning (CEL) was created by the Office of the President in 2007 to raise the profile of engaged learning and to initiate partnerships and projects that model this innovative approach to teaching and learning. As Utah Valley University moves forward in shaping a distinctive mission, it will build upon its strength of connecting the classroom experience with post-graduate professional and civic pursuits.
Though built on a successful foundation a name change was made in Fall of 2010 from the Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) to the Grants for Engaged Learning (GEL). The GEL program operates under the leadership of the Associate Vice President of Engaged Learning, Brian Birch and is part of the Office of Engaged Learning (OEL). The OEL is responsible for developing the vision of engaged learning and for overseeing campus-wide projects and initiatives such as undergraduate research, faculty development, curricular engagement, global engagement and international programs, the Capitol Reef Field Station, Community and Continuing Education, and Career and Technical Education.
We believe the overarching objective of the program should be to cultivate a culture of engagement in colleges, schools, departments, and other related programs across the university. This will lead to stronger long-term partnerships thus providing a continuing pipeline of engaged learning opportunities for our students, faculty, staff, and the community. It is important, we believe, to communicate that engaged learning should be a campus-wide orientation and that there are a variety ways to support and sustain EL in addition to the grant program. Since 2007, both the CEL and GEL offices have awarded over 422 grants designed to promote opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to identify meritorious projects and to collaborate with community and academic partners.