Join the fight against food insecurity and bring state-wide resources together to help end hunger! Apply today-make a difference.
APPLY TODAY!
Campus Compact for New Hampshire advances the public purposes of colleges and universities by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. LEARN ABOUT OUR WORK
CCNH advances the public purpose of colleges and universities by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. Read More
In the spring of 2023, Dr. Beth Rickenbach, in collaboration with the Meelia Center, used her psychology course, “Research Methods in Cognition and Development,” to teach students how to apply classroom knowledge in real-word scenarios. Through the course, students gained professional experience and participated in meaningful engagement outside of the classroom, which enhanced the curriculum.
This was the first time Rickenbach taught this course with a community engagement component. In the past, students usually do a research project on campus, in a traditional classroom setting. This unique model offers both hands on learning and project management skills, which elevates the subject matter.
At the beginning of the semester, students filled out a survey ranking topics that most interested them. Working with Nickie Lora and Karina Hernandez-Soto from the Meelia Center, the students were placed with a community partner that matched their interests. The students then created custom research projects with their partners to measure specific outcomes. The partnerships varied in subject and scope, ranging from the Manchester Department of Health to Brookhaven Hospice Care to Manchester West High School.
“As a faculty member, I’m grateful for the valued place on community-engagement on this campus—and this is due to the commitment and hard work of Nickie Lora and the staff of the Meelia Center,” said Rickenbach. “To be able to have students lead and manage projects with community partners where they can ask and find answers to real-world psychology questions is an invaluable learning opportunity.”
CCNH and its member colleges and universities work with communities throughout New Hampshire to meet pressing needs, from education opportunity to economic development. By promoting community-engaged teaching and learning, we also help prepare students to succeed in school and in the workplace.
