An Exploration of Gift-Giving and Honoraria Practices to Support Community-Engaged Learning at Postsecondary Institutions Conferences uri icon

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abstract

  • Experiential learning opportunities often involve guest speakers, collaborative research, placements, and practicums that require contributions from community partners. Recognizing the contributions of community partners who support teaching and learning is complex. It is not enough to simply set a payment amount that can be issued to community partners. Indeed, there are situations where offering monetary compensation may jeopardize a community partner’s access to social assistance. There are also institutional barriers that may come into play, as issuing monetary payments often requires government documents (e.g., Social Insurance Numbers) and financial systems (e.g., bank accounts) that not everyone has equitable access to. We must also consider how to offer recognition in culturally sensitive ways, particularly when working with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit individuals. This presentation explores how postsecondary institutions might address concerns around compensating community partners by creating guidelines and resources on the complex matters of recognition, incentives, gifts, compensation, and honoraria based on feedback from staff, faculty, and community partners who support teaching and learning. While it is not possible to create a single, standardized practice for recognition and compensation, guidelines can help meet the needs of each community partner, while also recognizing the limitations that faculty and staff may face regarding access to funds. Ensuring that community partners are compensated for their time and expertise is vital to developing equitable and reciprocal relationships. By the end of this oral presentation, attendees should be able to: 1. Articulate the value of community partners for supporting experiential learning 2. Identify some of the practical considerations that inform gift-giving and honoraria practices at postsecondary institutions 3. Explain how gift-giving and honoraria practices support equitable and reciprocal relationships with community partners 4. Reflect on how gift-giving and honoraria practices can be refined to meet the needs of community partners with varying lived experiences