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.