Emphasis on students, partners increases submissions

The number and variety of topics and disciplines represented in NOSC 2012 proposals set a record, according to proposal judges. UA planners had made a special effort to get more proposals from students and community partners by setting up three tracks emphasizing faculty/staff, students and community partners "and it seems to have worked," Griffith said.

Totals show 145 proposals by faculty and staff were accepted; 60 by students; and 34 by community partners for a total 239, representing 75 universities and other groups, 34 states and 40-plus disciplines and topics ranging from art to the environment, from engineering to medicine, and from veterans issues to children and youth.

Here is a sample of accepted proposals by AU and UA personnel (home department in parentheses).

Auburn

Mary Day (Journalism and Civic and Community Engagement), "Community Development in Appalachia."

Ralphs Foster (Office of Public Service), "Living Democracy: Moving Beyond Service in Alabama Communities."

Stephanie Grant (College of Liberal Arts), "Students as Citizens: An Experience in Civic Life."

Elizabeth P. Hickman (AMSTI director), "Improving Classroom Instruction: Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative."

Marian Royston (Journalism and Civic and Community Engagement), "Community Development in an Historic Alabama City."

Christiana M. Russell (Auburn University Outreach), "College Access in Rural Communities: The Influence of Collaborative Engagement."

Christiana M. Russell (Auburn University Outreach), "Smart Work Ethics: Rethinking the Path to College Access."

Cheryl Seals (Computer Science and Software Engineering), "KEMET Academy: Sustainable Community Development, a Model for K-12 Support."

Kyes Stevens (Center for the Arts and Humanities), "Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project: Breaking Learning Barriers."

Alabama

John Bolland (Human Environmental Sciences), "Research as Outreach: Notes from the Field."

Mary Curtner-Smith (Human Environmental Sciences), "After-School Program Mentors' Satisfaction in Relation to Program Quality."

George Daniels (Journalism), "Amplifying the Voice of Local School Teacher in Journalism Partnerships."

Betsy Emmons (Communication), "Thinking Smart with Smartphones: Disaster Preparation and the Digital Divide."

Haley Heckman (Nursing), "Health Care Access for Women in Rural Haiti."

Amy Holmes-Tagchungdarpa (History), "Bridging Worlds and Resources: A Faculty Perspective on the Jonang Foundation/University of Alabama Digital Collaboration."

Rick Houser (Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology & Counseling), "Rebuilding Sustainable Communities for Children and Families after a Disaster."

Sara Kaylor (Nursing), "An Experience of Mentorship among Graduate-Student Nursing Faculty and Students."

Elliot Knight (Center for Community-Based Partnerships), "100 Lenses: How Arts-Based Youth Partnerships Transform Students' Lives."

Marcy Koontz (Clothing, Textiles and Interior Design), "Bamboo as Catalysis for Creative, Educational, and Economic Engagement Opportunities."

Andrea Mabry (American Studies), "Using Farmers Markets as a Model for Community-Engagement."

W. Connor McCarty (International Studies), "Computers, Chronicle, and Community: A Student's Experience Engaging the Jonang Tradition in Tibet."

Richard Mocarski (Communication Studies), "A Community Based Approach to Refining Community Health Services: Text4Babies."

Khristina Motley (Education), "Arts Education and Self-Discovery: The Tuscaloosa Pre-K Initiative."

Sam Nathews (Advertising and Public Relations), "It takes LessThanUThink to Engage Students."

Robert Olin (dean of the College of Arts and Sciences), "The Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art at UA."

Michael Parker (Social Work), "A Vision for Aging Communities and Congregations: Successful Aging Conferences."

Ariane Prohaska (Criminal Justice), "Teaching Poverty Using Service-Learning: Lessons from the Tuscaloosa Tornado."

Jim Siders (Special Education and Multiple Abilities), "Field Experiences within the Multiple Abilities Program: Innovative Partnerships."

Ellen Spears (New College/American Studies), "Re-Engaging Local Histories: The Scottsboro Boys Museum University-Community Partnership."

Jessica Wedgworth (Environmental Engineering), "Building Community Partnerships in Environmental Engineering and Public Health."

Other universities with a large number of accepted proposals were the University of Georgia, 24; NC State University, 13; East Carolina University, 10; Purdue University, 9; and Michigan State University, 7.