A unique option for civic engagement, the Scholars Service Research Projects offer University Scholars the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams on self-directed, yearlong research projects that are carried out in close collaboration with a community partner. Below are brief summaries of this year's opportunities; read the full project descriptions here. Stars indicate projects initiated by University Scholars and other Northeastern Huskies. Applications are open. Apply by Saturday, September 19th at Noon.
** Bits & Bots aims to inspire and motivate primarily low-income 5th-8th grade students to further explore and pursue the STEM fields by teaching robotics after school at a Boston Public Library branch.
Center for STEM After School Program: With the support of the Center for STEM and several COE mentors who are experienced in K-12 outreach, this group will prepare and implement an after-school program within a local school (the Curley K-8 in Jamaica Plain) or at a local Boston Public Library branch.
Center for STEM Intro to STEM Pathways Video: A group of students will create a short outreach video (4-6 minutes) about the different STEM pathways available at Northeastern, including anecdotes from faculty about their research and quotes from students about co-op experiences.
Center for STEM K-12 Field Trips: A group of students will work with the Center for STEM to enhance the delivery of K-12 STEM field trip activities, developing and enhancing the activities and assisting with the implementation of the events on 6-10 Fridays in the Fall and Spring.
Citizen Schools: This fall, students will work with Citizen Schools staff to revise an existing after-school curriculum. In the spring, students will implement the curriculum as Citizen Teachers and will modify the curriculum further in response to this real-world testing.
Enabling Engineering is a Northeastern University student group that applies engineering technologies to build low-cost devices that improve the lives of the elderly and individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities. Scholars teams will select a project and develop a prototype.
** Huskies for Journalism Project volunteers will work with students in the West Roxbury Academy on producing content for and editing their first school newspaper. A great fit for students interested in education.
** Project FIT is dedicated to the well being of senior citizens in the Boston area. Our curriculum seeks to promote physical activity and a wider range of mobility for the participants. This year, we are seeking to expand our program to various locations. We are looking for students who can help us network and find organizations to work with, as well as students who can implement our exercise curriculum.
** Roxbury Rocks: Music Education Program aims to provide access to music education should not be limited to students whose families might not otherwise be able to afford to pay for lessons at local community organizations. The project will revolve around developing curriculum, cultivating community partners, and teaching music as a means of bringing out the best in students and providing peaceful support as well as inspiration for children who don’t often have the chance to creatively express themselves.
Roxbury Tenants of Harvard: This project entails building a new website for Roxbury Tenants of Harvard, reconceptualizing what the website should be and whom it should serve. Scholars will evaluate the needs of community members—children, teens, parents, senior citizens, speakers of multiple languages, and multiple staff departments—then create a site to serve those audiences.
** Southern Poverty Law Center Teaching Tolerance at Northeastern: Students in this project will partern with SPLC to “teach the Civil Rights movement,” bringing SPLC’s Perspectives for a Diverse America/Teaching Tolerance, a common core standard curriculum on anti-bias, social justice, and racial equity to local schools.
The DREAM Program, which pairs youth from affordable housing neighborhoods with mentors, seeks a team of students to identify, explain, and promote best practices across its multiple program sites. Each program site operates with a high degree of independence and flexibility, but it would be helpful to document a set of best practices around curriculum, recruitment, and family engagement.
United South End Settlements: Student researchers will work closely with the Vice President of Operations & Human Resources to design and implement a project that identifies community assets and needs; increases community awareness of USES’ current programs and services; and, identifies “community specialists” to whom individuals and families can be referred.
** VISM strives to foster a sustainable culture of service and social responsibility in university students through skill-based volunteerism. VISM is a social enterprise currently in development. The project seeks a web developer and business lead to grow the organization.