Community Engaged Research
Community engaged research (CER) is “the process of working collaboratively with groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interests, or similar situations with respect to issues affecting their well-being” as noted in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Principles of Community Engagement. There are several ways to conduct CER and many different people, groups and institutions can be involved in the process. Each year, UMSL hosts Community Engaged Research Workshop sessions designed to provide information and training in community engaged research to enhance research partnerships that address community issues. This series aims to build the capacity of researchers and community stakeholders to create and maintain long-term, collaborative community partnerships in the St. Louis region.
Fall 2024 research conversation
A conversation with a distinguished panel of UMSL faculty who are working closely with a variety of community, industry and government partners to solve problems, develop innovative solutions, interventions, initiatives and new knowledge aimed at reducing the time lags in translating research to practice.
Spring 2023 workshop series sessions:
Session 1: Radical Collaboration recording
Radical Collaboration: Community and university working to develop policy for social change (presentation by Riisa Rawlins)
Session 2: Different Models of Engaged Research recording
Exploring Different Models of Engaged Research: The basics
Search-based practices that build authentic partnerships between university and community for long-term relationships
Session 4: Translating data: Storytelling to build toward policy change
Research-based applications of storytelling to effect change in community-based work
Session 5: Funding for Engaged Research
An overview of resources and opportunities available for community engaged research grant activities
Service Learning
Service-Learning as an academic pedagogy connecting classroom learning with community partners to address current societal issues. It provides memorable, practical, job ready experiences for students while helping the campus to connect with neighborhoods, advocates, and community leaders. Faculty work closely with community partners to identify projects that meet the needs of those partners across the St. Louis region along with the learning goals of students. Students involved in Service-Learning projects learn to apply the skills and knowledge they acquire in their classes, and have the chance to interact with community partners, connecting their own learning objectives to projects involving research, marketing tools, website development, civic action, healthcare initiatives, and more.
The Center for Teaching and Learning on campus provides resources for faculty who work to integrate Service-Learning into their classes. Community members can email communityengagement@umsl.edu to inquire about opportunities to partner with UMSL faculty and students.
Internships and Co-ops give students the opportunity to combine classroom studies with work experience in a field related to their education and career goals. These degree related positions offer students an excellent opportunity to gain professional job experience and earn money to help with expenses while in school. Through these opportunities, students begin to understand what career choices they might make, gain valuable contacts in their field, and, in many cases, get paid for their work. They graduate with a college degree and an impressive resume. Career Services and academic departments work with students and employers to ensure that positions are linked to curriculum and career development. These opportunities are available to UMSL students at all levels in all majors. Contact Career Services for more information at 516-5111, or visit 278 Millennium Center.
The Des Lee Collaborative Vision (DLCV) is the realization of an idea that linking the knowledge and resources of universities with public organizations through collaboration and partnership “can produce a synergism far exceeding the efforts of any one segment working independently (E. Desmond Lee).” The DLCV brings together key educational, cultural, governmental and social service institutions to establish programs and share resources that benefit the St. Louis community. This is accomplished through the collaboration of more than 30 endowed professors with over 100 partner and community organizations both in the St. Louis region and worldwide. Administered through the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the DLCV’s primary focus is to enrich the overall quality of life throughout the St. Louis area and beyond, improve education and create opportunities for underserved populations.
