Connect - Networks

CENI Educator Liaison Network

The CENI Educator Liaison Network is building a community of practice between Virginia Tech and the regional formal and informal education community, including museums and school systems. Liaisons work with both Virginia Tech and their respective education organizations, and they spend regularly scheduled time in the physical spaces of both organizations.  

Educator Liaisons initiate, sustain, and document relationships between Virginia Tech and schools and museums. They coordinate field trips to Virginia Tech and bi-directionally facilitate requests for grants, activities, and projects.

Liaisons connect faculty to audiences for Broader Impacts, help Virginia Tech students gain access to outreach and service opportunities, and connect university faculty and the regional educational community to pursue grant funding.

CENI has established Educator Liaison relationships with the Science Museum of Western Virginia, Montgomery County Public Schools, Floyd County Public Schools, Radford City Public Schools, and Pulaski County Public Schools.  We are actively seeking to grow the network.

CENI Student Network

Members of the CENI Student Network lead outreach efforts, including field trips, festivals, and online meetups. CENI Student Network members serve as CENI employees, interns, and volunteers. Some CENI interns participate in the Campus InternEXP program.

Campus Engagement Network

Convened by the Center for Educational Networks and Impacts (CENI), the Campus Engagement Network is composed of representatives from colleges, centers, and offices who provide educational outreach opportunities to preK-12 and adult learners on campus and off. The Campus Engagement Leaders meet monthly to share collaborations, best practices, networks, marketing, and events. They focus on infrastructure, policies, safety, equity, and relationships that support our mission. 

Benefits:

Campus Engagement Leaders have direct access and input to 

• evaluation consulting from CENI,
• CENI Education Liaison Network,
• a cohesive network of researchers, educators, and practitioners in outreach and engagement.

CENI Inspiration and Outreach Network - ION

ION is made up of Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students who want to connect directly with learners at schools, museums, and CENI events with outreach that 

• shares their research, 
• inspires learners to learn more about a particular topic, and/or 
• broadens horizons for learners to consider education pathways. 

ION members

• Network with each other;
• Focus on engagement, equity, and inspiration; 
• Are the first to be contacted when a community partner requests an experience;
• Create and share learning experiences at on-campus events (such as the Virginia Tech Science Festival, Hokie for a Day field trips, ICAT Creativity + Innovation Day); 
• Create and share learning experiences with off-campus partners for STEM events, museum festivals, classroom visits, and other opportunities;
• Take part in workshops for improving outreach and engagement (for example, communicating with children, working with learners with autism, and related topics); and
• Receive CENI recognition for their efforts.

CENI Student Alumni