Contact Us

Contact:
Amanda Harrison
Manager, Honors and Scholars Programs

Anderson Hall, Room 112 on a map

Community-Based Research Scholars 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

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Get Involved as a Community Partner

Community-Based Research (CBR) is complete with a strong partnership of students, faculty and community members who collaboratively engage in research to inform solutions for a pressing community problem, identify avenues to effect social change or evaluate program impact.

The research project is community-informed, collaborative and action-oriented. The philosophy underpinning this approach is that the community members are the experts and the people affected by the issue should inform solutions to a social issue. We are always looking for new ways to collaborate with local non-profits. We believe in collaboration and want to work together towards mutually beneficial goals of community-oriented research.

Community-Based Research (CBR) is complete with a strong partnership of students, faculty and community members who collaboratively engage in research to inform solutions for a pressing community problem, identify avenues to effect social change or evaluate program impact. The research project is community-informed, collaborative and action-oriented. The philosophy underpinning this approach is that the community members are the experts and the people affected by the issue should inform solutions to a social issue. We are always looking for new ways to collaborate with local non-profits. We believe in collaboration and want to work together towards mutually beneficial goals of community-oriented research.

How can local non-profits work with CBRS?

Community Service Site

All CBR Scholars volunteer with local nonprofits during the first year of the program for the entire academic year. Non-profits can host students for direct service positions.

Spring Research Partner

Apply to become a spring research partner through a competitive request for proposals process. Applications are due on July 15 annually. The spring research partner works with the Director of the program to coordinate a substantive research project with 20 - 30 students who collect and analyze data based on the non-profit's research needs. Spring research partners tend to have already been involved with CBRS as a community service site or fall research design site. 

Applications are now open for the Spring 2018 research project. The theme for 2017- 2018 is hunger. If your organization helps low-income people access food they otherwise could not access, consider applying today!

Fall Research Design Site

Share your research ideas with a small group of CBR Scholars who will then design a research project based on one of your ideas. This is a hypothetical research design that could be implemented in the future. This is a great first step if you are considering becoming a Spring Research Partner or a CBR Capstone Site.

CBR Capstone Site

Students who participate in AU's undergraduate certificate program for community-based research are required to do an independent study research project in collaboration with a local non-profit. If your organization is interested in being a capstone site for a research project that one student could complete within 2-3 months, please contact us!

Contact us

Dr. Jane E. Palmer, Director of CBRS, can be reached at 202-885-3118 or jpalmer@american.edu.

Inquiries can also be directed to cbrs@american.edu.