The Conceptualizing Public Engagement series: A working meeting series to co-create a landscape map and organizational framework for public engagement at the University of Michigan

In order to design an effective institutional change strategy to support and expand public engagement efforts, landscaping efforts should be undertaken to inform an understanding of existing resources and opportunities. This information can guide the development of programming and support structures to specifically address resource gaps, identify bright spots and opportunities to scale successful programs, and meet the needs of different stakeholder communities. Here, we describe a case study in landscape mapping at academic institutions. The Conceptualizing Public Engagement working meeting series was held in the summer and fall of 2018 at the University of Michigan (U-M). Designed to build recognition for the diversity of existing public engagement activities, seed cross-disciplinary networks and communities of practice, and inform institutional strategy, the series drew together faculty and other research scholars, students, program staff, and administrators in a series of open conversations. These conversations addressed key questions for the community, including "How can we understand and organize U-M's public engagement stakeholders, goals, approaches, and spaces?" and "How might we network the U-M public engagement community for greater impact?" Using facilitated activities and structured discussions, participants co-created organizational frameworks and landscape maps designed to understand and contextualize the diversity of different public engagement activities already active at the University of Michigan. Following the series, researchers deployed qualitative analysis and deductive coding methods to synthesize the ideas and rich conversations which emerged in the meetings. The participatory conversations and subsequent analyses then helped guide plans for future programming to build capacity and increase efficacy of public engagement efforts and supports at the university.