SGSI 2023: Research with Impact: Developing Skills as a Community-Engaged Scholar

Course is closed

Monday, Sept. 11 – Friday, Sept. 15, 9 AM – 2 PM

Stanford’s vision calls on the university to pursue research that accelerates solutions to the world’s most pressing problems and there are many efforts on campus that engage graduate students in carrying out this kind of problem-focused research. Join us to learn from leading scholars about different approaches to community engaged scholarship and how you can develop a research agenda that addresses priorities and needs of the broader community. Each session will involve scholars from across campus, and by the end of the week participants will draft a brief research memo to guide their next steps.

• Clayton A. Hurd, PhD, Director of Community Engaged Research, Haas Center for Public Service
• Joanne Tien, PhD, director of RAISE Doctoral Fellowship Program, Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education

Audience & Capacity

Open to all graduate students in any discipline, as well as postdoctoral scholars, if space allows. Space is limited to 20.

Objectives

By participating fully in this course, you will learn to:

• Articulate the principles of public and community engaged scholarship
• Understand the differences between deficit and asset-based approaches to community development and research 
• Identify the ethical and political tensions in community engaged research and campus-community partnerships 
• Understand how your positionality, particularly as it relates to issues of race, power and privilege, may impact your role as a researcher in the community 
• Articulate how you will incorporate elements of community engaged scholarship in your own research
• Describe the relationship of your project to issues of race/ethnicity, power, difference, oppression, and social justice
• Define and select relevant community issues to be addressed through research
• Disseminate research results in ways that enhance community power, advance community development, and/or influence policy
• Develop and sustain effective strategies to collaborate effectively and equitably with community partners
• Develop an understanding of the different centers and resources on campus to support community engaged scholarship
• Identify different disciplinary approaches to community engaged scholarship
• Learn from and network with engaged graduate student peers, Stanford faculty and professional staff, and community partners

Summary

Stanford’s vision calls on the university to pursue research and creative activity that accelerates solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, and there are many efforts on campus that engage graduate students in carrying out this kind of problem-focused scholarship. Join us to learn from leading scholars about different approaches to community-engaged scholarship and how you can develop a research agenda that addresses priorities and needs of the broader community.

The goal of this course is to expose graduate students to the various forms of community engaged scholarship and how you can integrate these approaches into your own research efforts. Each session will involve scholars from across campus, and by the end of the week, participants will draft a brief research memo to guide their next steps. Partners include the Law School’s Policy Lab, the Haas Center for Public Service, the GSE’s Research-Practice Partnership program, the Rising Environmental Leaders Program at the Woods Institute, the Partnerships for Climate Justice in the Bay Area, the Office of Community Engagement, and Stanford Impact Labs, among others.

Students will learn about the foundations of community-engaged research and develop skills for putting it into practice. This involves forming a successful community partnership, co-designing research questions and methods, collaborative data analysis and publication, the ethics of engagement, and leveraging different types of scholarly products to influence policy and strengthen communities. The course will also provide opportunities for students to network with others to build a larger community of engaged scholars on campus.

Additional Course Expectations

• In addition to the daily sessions, students should expect 1-2 hours of work per day outside of class such as reading an article or drafting their research memo.
• Full attendance is expected. This course is able to accommodate students observing a religious holiday during SGSI. Please email vpgeapplications@stanford.edu for details.

SUNet ID required to log in; all SGSI correspondence sent to your Stanford email account.