Ohio State Engages February 2026 Newsletter

Colleagues,

Thank you to everyone who submitted proposals for the Outreach and Engagement seed grant programs. We look forward to announcing the recipients later in spring semester. We are pleased to share additional funding opportunities in this months newsletter, including Ohio State Energy Partners Awards, Spark Grants for Arts Engagement, Clinical and Translational Science Institute Spark Awards and Student Academic Success Research Grants.

One of the universitys Programs of Excellence in Engaged Scholarship, the Age Friendly Innovation Center in the College of Social Work, is hosting a screening of No Place to Grow Old, a film exploring the housing challenges facing a growing number of older adults. The Feb. 23 event at the Gateway Film Center will include a panel of local policymakers discussing efforts to assure access to affordable housing for central Ohios aging population.

Be on the lookout soon for the call for applications for Outreach and Engagements yearlong professional development program, the Engaged Scholars Academy. Recently featured in Decembers Ohio State Alumni Magazine, the academy will provide two semesters of professional development workshops, networking and other opportunities. We anticipate admitting up to 15 participants in this years academy cohort, with the call for applicants to be released in the last week of February.

Wishing you all the best.

Sincerely,

Jason Reece
Vice Provost for Engaged Scholarship and
Community Engagement
Office of Academic Affairs

Training dentists. Increasing access to care.

Since it began more than 20 years ago, the OHIO (Oral Health Improvement through Outreach) Project has provided $25.5 million in dental services around the state, resulting in 210,000 patient encounters and 510,000 procedures. The initiative, run by the College of Dentistry and featured in the For Ohioans series, provides dental services around the state and gives fourth-year dental students firsthand experience with a range of patients.

Call for proposals and events open for the annual OSEP awards

In collaboration with Ohio State Energy Partners (OSEP), the Office of Academic Affairs has opened a call for grant proposals that advance resource stewardship initiatives and/or align with academic sustainability goals; align with advancing access, engagement and student success; or promote research translation. New this year, there is also a call for events through the OSEP awards. Faculty, staff and students are eligible to apply. Submissions are due March 23 for project and event proposals.

Nominations sought for 2026-27 Ohio State Artist Laureate

The Office of Academic Affairs is seeking nominations (including self-nominations) for the 2026-27 Ohio State Artist Laureate. The program is designed to help the university enhance impact through external engagement.

The aim is to bring the arts to underserved communities across the state, often with the assistance of our regional campuses, and to engage with those communities in shared experiences that will, ideally, enrich and inform audience and laureate alike. The laureate must be a tenured Ohio State faculty member. The nomination deadline is Friday, March 13.

Share your America 250 news and events

As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026, Ohio State is proud to contribute to this historic celebration. By combining our land-grant legacy with the America 250 celebration, Ohio State will showcase its reputation as a center for dynamic research and meaningful community involvement.

If you have America 250 news or events to share from your area, please share them with us at the link below.

More community engagement news

• Ohio State Marion helps kick off the City of Marions America 250 celebrations
• Scholars gather at Ohio State for Northwest Ordinance conference
• Ohio State is the nations No. 1 producer of U.S. Fulbright Scholars
• Kaiser sustainability proposal funded by AMP
• The power of the pen: Student grant writers serve community
• ROOTED Dashboard: RetainingOhios Outstanding Talent through Education and Development

Opportunities

Call for proposals: Battelle Engineering, Technology and Human Affairs funding

The Battelle Engineering, Technology and Human Affairs (BETHA) endowment is accepting proposals for its 2026 grant competition through March 27. Administered by ERIK, the BETHA grants seek innovative projects that examine the relationship between science and technology with impact on broader social and cultural issues.

Spark Grants for arts engagement

Funded by the Mellon Foundation, Spark Grants provide seed funding for community-engaged arts projects. The competition is open to faculty, students and staff members on any Ohio State campus for projects that center the arts and that are done in partnership with community organizations. Proposals involving communities served by our regional campuses are especially welcome and will receive priority consideration. Proposals are due March 13.

Request for Proposals: 2026 Student Academic Success Research (SASR) Grants

The Student Success Research Lab is requesting proposals for the 2026 Student Academic Success Research (SASR) Grants program. Proposals are sought for research projects that focus on improving, expanding and/or revising student success programs and services. Grants will be between $5,000 to $25,000 with typical project timelines of one to two years. The submission deadline is March 13.

CTSI Spark Awards available

Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Spark Awards are designed to support preliminary research and generate essential data for new and ongoing projects. Spark Awards provide investigators with resources to advance their research, aiming to jump-start pilot studies and support future extramural grant applications or scientific initiatives. Applications will be received through March 15, or until designated funds are exhausted.

Hayes Research Forum needs additional faculty judges

The 40th annual Hayes Research Forum on Friday, March 6, which features exemplary graduate student and postdoctoral research across Ohio State, seeks day-of presentation judges across disciplines! Judges must hold a terminal degree. Help spotlight outstanding graduate and postdoctoral research and award over $17,000 in prizes. Email cgs-hayesforum@osu.edu to volunteer.

Register for the No Place to Grow Old screening Feb. 23

Join the Age-Friendly Innovation Center for a screening of the documentary No Place to Grow Old, followed by a panel discussion with local leaders on how central Ohio is addressing older adult homelessness. The screening takes place on Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. at the Gateway Film Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Engagement Scholarship Consortium Conference call for proposals

The Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC) seeks proposals for its 2026 annual conference, "Changing Lives and Improving Society: Data-Driven Engagement and Innovation." The conference will be held Oct. 7-8 in Knoxville, Tenn. Proposals are due March 31.

Call for Proposals open for 2026 Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) Conference

The 2026 CUMU Conference: Anchored in Purpose explores how purpose-driven strategies, rooted in place and responsive to community needs, advance social and economic mobility for students, support regional prosperity, and enhance community well-being. Proposals are due March 19.

Professional development opportunities from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium

The Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC) offers webinars and online professional development, as well as networking opportunities for faculty, practitioners, graduate students and university leaders throughout the year. These opportunities are offered exclusively to individuals affiliated with ESC member institutions, including Ohio State.

Explore Campus Compact programs

Through Campus Compact's programs, you have an entire nationwide network at your fingertips. Gain access to valuable information, practical tools and the latest research that you need to move forward locally and across the country. Ohio State is a member of Campus Compact.

Make connections with the Outreach and Engagement listserv

Did you know you can connect with colleagues through the Outreach and Engagement listserv? You can share your work and events, look for partnerships and much more by emailing the list at outreach@lists.osu.edu.