Community College Engagement in Research, Strategies from Two American Council of Learned Societies Community College Fellows

• In Event: Teaching and Learning Symposium Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 5: Mentorship and Research in the Classroom

Abstract

Community college faculty and students often have limited access to research opportunities due to heavy teaching loads, constrained resources, and fewer institutional pathways into traditional academic scholarship. Despite these barriers, community colleges remain vital spaces for inquiry, public/academic scholarship, and student-centered research that connects learning to real-world issues.
This interactive workshop brings together two faculty members who are fellows of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Community College Faculty Fellowship Program to share strategies for expanding research engagement in community college settings. The workshop focuses on two primary objectives: (1) identifying practical approaches for involving community college students in research through coursework, mentoring, and collaborative projects, and (2) exploring ways community college faculty can sustain research agendas that include traditional scholarship, public sociology, and community-engaged work.
Presenters will briefly introduce key findings from a recent ACLS publication highlighting the strength and value of teaching and research in the humanities and social sciences at community colleges. Drawing on their experiences as ACLS fellows, the presenters will share concrete examples of faculty-led research, student-faculty collaboration, and public-facing scholarship, along with strategies for navigating the institutional constraints common in community college environments such as honors contracts, undergraduate research centers, and community action research.
The workshop is designed to be highly interactive. Participants will engage in guided discussion and small-group activities to brainstorm individual research ideas, identify potential collaborators, and explore creative ways to integrate research into their teaching and professional roles. Attendees will leave with adaptable strategies, new perspectives on community college research, and practical tools to support both student engagement and faculty scholarship.
Presenters
• Megan Klein, Oakton College
• Katherine Rowell, Sinclair Community College

Authors

• Katherine R. Rowell

• Megan Klein, Oakton College