"Engagement is the convergence of university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to benefit the University, to contribute to the public good, and to enrich the quality of life." TTU Ad Hoc Taskforce on Engagement (September, 2007)

Texas Tech University System is an incubator for a rich and diverse array of Research, Teaching and Service activities that address the societal needs and public good of Texas, the surrounding states and the world. In 2006, Texas Tech University was recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as one of 62 U.S. universities in its new elective classification for "Community Engagement."

Community Engagement in higher education requires new understandings, new skills, and different ways of conceptualizing scholarship and research. Therefore, we invite you to participate in Texas Tech University System’s first annual engagement conference. Under the theme, "Community Engagement: What does it mean, why does it matter and how are we getting there?" the conference will bring national leaders in engagement to the Texas Tech University campus, and feature experts from all three institutions – Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and Angelo State University – who will share their experiences and strategies in applying the concept of "community engagement" to their institutional work. Sessions have been designed to:

• Deepen our understanding of community engagement and its benefits to the institution and to our communities
• Highlight the importance of engaged scholarship and research that is rooted in mutually beneficial, reciprocal relationships with our communities
• Provide strategies for community engaged research, teaching, and service activities
• Identify opportunities for interdisciplinary scholarship and research
• Develop resource partnerships that solidify long-term reciprocal relationships (internally and externally) thereby enhancing infrastructure for research and education
• Demonstrate methods for assessing and evaluating engaged scholarship and research activities
• Highlight Carnegie implications for faculty development, evaluation, and reward systems

Location: All conference sessions (except the luncheon) will be held at the Student Union Building on the Texas Tech University campus.The noon luncheon and keynote will be held at the Merket Alumni Center.