Navigating Pathways to Community: Exploring the Experiences of Community-Engaged Humanities and Social Science Academics

This research addresses how academics participate in the community. The findings explore what community engagement is and why and how it occurs, how social science and humanities academics conduct engagement activities and how they are, or are not, supported (through institutional units, colleagues, etc.), acknowledged (by superiors, colleagues, and community), and rewarded (through the promotions process). In spite of considerable institutional rhetoric proclaiming a commitment to community engagement, in many cases engagement activities are not well supported. Finally, the notion of 'societal impact' is considered, and participants reflected on how their research creates change in the communities they work with.