CUMU Conference 2018

Georgia State University has had a plethora of invisible research activities educating the local citizenry and addressing local societal challenges that inner city residents face in Atlanta. My presentation will focus on how universities can utilize field schools to train students in research methods as well as interview protocols and valuable informational about minority and hidden populations in urban environments.

Recently over the last five years, Georgia State University has instituted through their College of Arts and Sciences several field schools (and other student-led initiatives) aimed at partnering with local communities. In these field schools, professors and a team of graduate and undergraduate students use “on the ground” research methods to address Atlanta’s societal challenges. Many of these innovative partnerships help to address longstanding inequities and social problems in the city of Atlanta by educating the citizenry, as well as local government agencies and officials.

The work of field schools has been important to the success of GSU as an anchor institution rebuilding downtown’s neighborhoods. For example, the Sociology Department has partnered with local community agencies in 1) examining the homeless youth population in Atlanta, 2) surveying the health outcomes of Atlanta’s inner-city residents residing on the new urban Beltline, and 3) documenting the transitional experiences of refugees and immigrants in city of Atlanta. The Sociology Department has developed relationships with local nonprofits, government agencies, and local governments to help share the experiences of local residents.