Community Engaged Research

Community-engaged research is a collaborative enterprise between academic researchers (faculty, staff, and students) and community members (organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies) that synthesizes multiple sources of knowledge, promotes diverse methods of discovery and dissemination of the knowledge produced, and embraces social action and social change as outcomes (Strand et al, 2003). The Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) program at Fairfield University focuses on engaging faculty and students in interdisciplinary research with local non-profit agencies, governments, and schools in the Greater Bridgeport Area of Connecticut – while also supporting select regional, national, and international projects.

Stay in the Know

Community Partner Interest Form

Mission and Values

The Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) program connects the knowledge and resources of the University with the expertise and resources of the community to:

• Develop research-based solutions to social challenges
• Facilitates professional development for faculty, students, staff, and community partners to strengthen the practice of community-based participatory research
• Assists faculty to produce high-quality, applied research on critical issues
• Creates opportunities for students that build their research skills, problem-solving capacity, and ability to work in diverse teams
• Facilitates and strengthens campus-community partnerships
• Builds the research capacity of community partners
• Disseminates research results to the community, policymakers, and academics
• Convenes stakeholders to discuss issues and identify new research opportunities

Resources

Our Center for Social Impact staff and the Faculty Chair of CEnR are available for one-on-one consulting on project ideas, CEnR methodologies, and available research tools. The Center will be developing a host of resources and workshops – for faculty, students, and community partners -- to support and advance CEnR. The College of Arts & Sciences Fredrickson Family Innovation Lab, located in the Academic Commons, is also a great resource.

Journals Focused on Community-Engaged Scholarship

Our Team

Additional Information