Research that Reaches Out

Research that Reaches Out integrates service and research to equip students with the skills required to engage in sophisticated research aimed at solving real problems facing humankind. Two guiding goals drive this work:

Goal 1 – Enhance student learning through service-focused research.

Goal 2 – Foster a culture of civic engagement through scholarship and service.

Students engage with Research that Reaches Out in the classroom at three different levels: Expose, Explore, and Express. Student learning is evaluated using seven student learning outcomes.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the foundational level, students will:

Critically analyze multiple perspectives or theories about a relevant issue/problem faced by a local, national, or global community.
Propose solutions to a local, national, or global issue/problem using academic knowledge and scholarship.
Articulate ethical reasoning in considering a local, national, or global issue/problem.

At the intermediate level, students will:

Participate in implementing contextually relevant responses to a local, national, or global issue/problem using academic knowledge and scholarship.
Apply ethical reasoning in implementing service to address or alleviate a local, national, or global issue/problem.

(Students at the Explore level are also relying upon student learning outcomes gained at the foundational Expose level.)

At the advanced level, students will:

Analyze community needs or identify community benefits and determine research methods to develop an appropriate response.
Implement research methods and service activities to address the community need or issue (local, national, or global) using existing scholarship and/or original inquiry and research.

(Students at the Express level are also relying upon student learning outcomes gained at the foundational Expose and intermediate Explore levels.)