Community Engagement in the College of Arts and Sciences
Forging the Future
The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Strategic Plan (2018-2023) is entitled "Forging the Future." One of the strategic pillars within the plan is Community Engagement. The strategic goal for community engagement is to engage with the community in meaningful and mutually beneficial collaborations that contribute to the public good. The objectives include:
- Expand access to community engagement resources.
- Develop mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Broaden scholarship in the field of community engagement.
- Integrate engagement throughout the university.
Access to Resources
Faculty members across the College of Arts and Sciences offer engaging and meaningful opportunities for students to participate in service learning and city-as-classroom experiences. Through these experiences, students work alongside nonprofit organizations and other institutions to apply what they're learning in the classroom in real world settings. Students also get the opportunity to highlight their experiences—and research—at the UAB Expo, which is facilitated by the UAB Office of Service Learning and Research.
History faculty and students partner with Temple Beth-El
Faculty members and students from the Department of History partnered with Temple Beth-El on a public history project that aims to highlight a little-known incident in Birmingham’s Civil Rights history.
Dr. Pete Jones takes students to the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
Undergraduate students at UAB had the opportunity to tour sites across the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, including A.G. Gaston Motel, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI), Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, and Kelly Ingram Park.
BLOOM Studio students design license plates
A new automobile tag designed by University of Alabama at Birmingham students for Alabama Audubon will be on the streets soon.
Partnerships
The College seeks out and works closely with an array of community partners in Greater Birmingham and across Alabama. The College's faculty, students, and staff approach all partnerships with respect and reciprocity, while also emphasizing strategic outcomes. Learn more about some of our partners who do meaningful work on a range of topics including neighborhood revitalization, conservation, and social justice.
Research and Creative Activities
The College is home to several centers, institutes, and research labs. Through these entities, faculty and students conduct research, facilitate programs, and secure grants alongside community partners and local residents. In some instances, the partnerships result in published research, conferences, and symposiums. Along with scholarship and research, these groups also find ways to inform and engage the public in ways that positively benefit the community. Explore the work of some of our centers, institutes, research labs, and departments.
Reflections on Community Engagement
Kecia M. Thomas, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
“Community engagement is an essential component of achieving excellence in higher education. It is through these co-creative partnerships that our students come to more fully comprehend the significance and value of what is taught on campus as they develop professional skills. These ‘real-world’ community relationships also benefit our faculty through the opportunity to apply, adjust, and improve their thinking, research, and scholarship. Most importantly through community engagement, the College is able to demonstrate its commitment and investment in the community and our joint futures. At a time in which the value of higher education is being questioned, collaborative and productive relationships between the university and its community makes the importance of continued education transparent.”
Jim McClintock, Ph.D.
Endowed University Professor of Polar and Marine Biology, Department of Biology
“One of the elements that attracted me to UAB from California some 37 years ago was its intimate proximity and commitment to the greater Birmingham community. In my view, UAB’s remarkable success as an institution is not just the result of outstanding research and teaching, but the generous degree to which students, faculty, administrators, and staff continue to integrate themselves and their expertise into the heart and soul of the surrounding communities. UAB has increasingly become a vital component of the greater Birmingham region. So, let us continue growing our outreach to our community and celebrate UAB as an institution that works alongside and supports its neighbors.”
Kay Morgan, Ph.D.
Director of the African American Studies Program
“Engaging with the community makes it possible to understand and appreciate the issues confronting our communities and collectively work with community members in addressing those issues while fostering values of social responsibility, integrity, and good citizenship among our students.”