University Announces New Office of Community Engagement

Duquesne University has announced the creation of the Office of Community Engagement (OCE), which will serve as the “front door” for internal and external audiences who seek to learn more about the University’s community engagement activities and who might be interested in getting involved with those efforts.

OCE will be housed within the Office of the President. The Vice President for Community Engagement will lead OCE. This organizational structure is patterned after the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement and Georgetown University’s Office of Community Engagement, both of which are viewed as national leaders in the field of university-based community engagement. The success of both universities’ community engagement efforts has been facilitated in part by having their community engagement functions embedded within their respective offices of the president. Among other things, this ensures that the work of this critical office has the full attention of and collaboration with the president’s office. This organizational structure provides an excellent model for Duquesne University to replicate as it works to become the region’s flagship institution for community engagement.

The government relations function and the Center for Engaged Teaching and Research (CETR) will be housed within OCE. OCE will thus oversee the University’s government relations work through regular engagement with state and local government officials.  The government relations function will continue to serve as the primary liaison between the University and elected leaders and policymakers at the local, state and federal levels, with oversight by OCE.

CETR is the administrative home of community-engaged teaching and research at the University. The heart of CETR’s work is helping the University’s faculty and students engage with the community through learning and research that has the potential to have a broad, positive impact on the community. CETR thus advances Duquesne’s education, research and economic development priorities and increases awareness of the University’s programs, strengths and accomplishments. CETR will continue to serve as the primary liaison between the University and its faculty and students. In collaboration with OCE, the Office of the Provost will continue to provide oversight of CETR’s academic functions.

Under this new structure, Vice President William Generett will lead OCE as it continues to establish Duquesne as a leader in community engagement in the region, across the nation, and around the world, consistent with Duquesne’s rich Catholic and Spiritan mission.