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Summer 08-31-2024\u003Cbr>Crisis of Meaning: Compassion and Community Engaged Learning\u003Cbr>Sandra Smeltzer\u003Cbr>Western University, [ssmeltze@uwo.ca](ssmeltze@uwo.ca)[ ](ssmeltze@uwo.ca)Amala Poli\u003Cbr>Western University, [apoli@uwo.ca](apoli@uwo.ca)[ ](apoli@uwo.ca)Kristina Axenova\u003Cbr>York University, [kaxenova@yorku.ca](kaxenova@yorku.ca)\u003Cbr>Follow this and additional works at: [https://www.cjsotl-rcacea.ca](https://www.cjsotl-rcacea.ca)\u003Cbr>[https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotlrcacea.2024.2.15603](https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotlrcacea.2024.2.15603) |  |\n\nRecommended Citation  \nSmeltzer, S., Poli, A., & Axenova, K. (2024) . Crisis of meaning: Compassion and community engaged learning. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 15(2). [https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotlrcacea.2024.2.15603](https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotlrcacea.2024.2.15603)  \nCrisis of Meaning: Compassion and Community Engaged Learning  \nAbstract  \nThis research paper explores the relationship between compassion, meaning-making, and curricular community engaged learning (CEL) in a university setting. We contend that CEL, as a key form of community-focused experiential learning (EL), can play an important role in helping address the wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff by providing opportunities to engage in what they consider to be meaningful activities. Our critical examination of this relationship draws on primary research conducted in Winter and Spring 2022 with members of a large Canadian university and its affiliated colleges. This mixed-methods research includes a Qualtrics-based survey with over 2,500 respondents, combined with a series of interdisciplinary, online focus group discussions with faculty, staff, and students. Our findings reveal that many participants have experienced a “crisis of meaning” in their academic and work lives. They thus seek avenues to engage in meaningful, creative, compassionate, and community-focused activities that provide them with opportunities to foster their overall well-being. Participants emphasized the heightened importance of such endeavours after the COVID-19 pandemic as they pursue deeper connections with others and a stronger sense of purpose beyond utilitarian academic or employment performance.  \nCe document de recherche explore la relation entre la compassion, la recherche de sens et l'apprentissage communautaire engagé dans un cadre universitaire. Nous soutenons quel'apprentissage communautaire engagé, en tant que forme clé d'apprentissage expérientiel axé sur la communauté, peut jouer un rôle important en contribuant au bien-être des étudiants et des étudiantes, du corps enseignant et du personnel, en leur offrant la possibilité de s'engager dans ce qu'ils considèrent comme des activités significatives. Notre examen critique de cette relation s'appuie sur une recherche primaire menée à l'hiver et au printemps 2022 auprès de membres d'une grande université canadienne et de ses collèges affiliés. Cette recherche à méthodes mixtes comprend une enquête basée sur Qualtrics avec plus de 2 500 répondants et répondantes, combinée à une série de discussions de groupe interdisciplinaires en ligne avec des membres du corps enseignant, du personnel et des étudiants et des étudiantes. Nos conclusions révèlent que de nombreux participants et participantes ont connu une « crise de sens » dans leur vie universitaire et professionnelle. Ils cherchent donc des moyens de s'engagerdans des activités significatives, créatives, compatissantes et axées sur la communauté, qui leur offrent la possibilité de favoriser leur bien-être général. Les participants et les participantes ont souligné l'importance accrue de tels efforts après la pandémie de la COVID-19, car ils recherchent des liens plus profonds avec les autres et un sens plus fort de la raison d'être au-delà des performances académiquesou professi","cbCaiuJthh2xETs9","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuJthh2xETs9","pdf",309288,16,"English","# Abstract\n## Compassion, meaning-making, and CEL\n## Mixed-methods study design\n## Findings: crisis of meaning and wellbeing\n## Post–COVID-19 emphasis on purpose\n## Conclusion and critical implications","[{\"question\":\"What is the central relationship examined in the paper?\",\"answer\":\"The paper examines the connection between compassion, meaning-making, and curricular community engaged learning (CEL) in a university context.\"},{\"question\":\"How was the research conducted?\",\"answer\":\"It uses mixed-methods primary research from Winter and Spring 2022, including a Qualtrics-based survey with over 2,500 respondents and online interdisciplinary focus groups with faculty, staff, and students.\"},{\"question\":\"What did participants report regarding their experiences?\",\"answer\":\"Many participants experienced a “crisis of meaning” in their academic and work lives and sought ways to engage in meaningful, creative, compassionate, community-focused activities to foster wellbeing.\"}]","Crisis of Meaning: Compassion and Community Engaged Learning - Article 13 | PDF"]