Community-Based Research
Program Overview

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Community-Based Research (CBR) Fellowships

The APPLES Service-Learning Program in partnership with the Office for Undergraduate Research (with support from the ACCIAC) awards up to seven Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) of $3,500 each to support community-based research in either domestic or global communities.

Community-based research is a collaborative enterprise that involves students, community members, and faculty in the design and implementation of research projects of shared interest that address a community need and, ultimately, promote social action and the common good. Community members play an integral role in defining the research question and objectives as well as providing input on project organization and direction. This approach requires a research question that is investigative rather than one that is intended to prove a given agenda. Many community-based research projects take the form of a needs assessment, program evaluation, data analysis, or documentary research. Community-based research promotes the use of various methods of inquiry and dissemination of the findings produced.

For examples of past CBR-SURF projects, please visit this page.

• maintain a journal or blog throughout the summer
• attend monthly reflection discussions during the fall semester after conducting research
• present findings at a research symposium or conference or publish findings in a journal
• submit a one-page, final report summarizing the experience of conducting community-based research

Fellows will be invited to participate in information and recruiting events for other undergraduates considering CBR projects.

For more information, please contact Sarah Smith at APPLES.