Tulane University
AC-10: Support for Research

Center for Public Service (CPS) Research Grants support students conducting community-based research as part of an independent study course or an approved honors thesis. CPS defines community-based research as collaborative, change-oriented research that engages students and community members in projects that address community needs. The research grants provides Tulane students with the financial resources up to $500 to conduct research that advances Tulane’s research and civic agendas in the context of contemporary New Orleans

The Center for Public Service offers grants and assistance to encourage faculty community-based research. CPS defines community-based research as collaborative, change-oriented research that engages faculty members, students, and community members in projects that address community needs. Both "Community-Based Research Grants" and "Community-Based Research Participatory Grant" are offered by CPS. CPS defines Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) as a collaborative approach to research that promotes positive change with and within the community. It involves an equitable relationship between community organizations and university researchers that is reflected in all levels of project design and dissemination.

In addition to grants, the Center for Public Service offers support to Tulane faculty engaged in various forms of research, including:
--connecting faculty with community partners in New Orleans, but also nationally and internationally
--serving as a liaison between faculty and community agencies
--supporting collaboration across disciplines on and off-campus

In February 2013, the Ad Hoc Committee expanded their typical categories for academic review to encompass and explicitly recognize engagement, recognizing and rewarding the work and commitments of faculty. The engagement activities enhance the traditional work including research/art-making, teaching, and service. Tulane is therefore committed to engagement across scholarship, research, creative activity, and teaching. Engagement lies at the core of the university’s mission and catalyzes the accomplishments of its faculty. Therefore, the university is committed to supporting all scholars, including those who participate in publicly engaged knowledge generation that advances community and other external partnerships, addresses critical societal issues, and contributes to the public good.

Tulane’s libraries provides access to information resources (print and digital) and provides services in the training and use of these resources by our faculty and student in the following specific areas. This is, of course, in addition to acquiring materials that support research and teaching in the areas of social wellbeing, economic development/prosperity, and ecological health.

1) Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research
2) TU Biodiversity Research Institute
3) A National Library of Medicine Outreach Grant enabled Matas Library of the Health Sciences to be engaged with:

a) Louisiana Public Health Institute: we engage and teach their public health workers and offer document delivery.
b) NO Public Library Partnership: we engage the community health workers to train patient visitors to access and use Medline Plus
c) Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine (via SOM): we engage community health workers to train patient visitors to use Medline Plus.
d) TU Emerging Scholars Academy (via SPHTM): Matas handles the information literacy and information searching process.
4) NIH Compliance for researchers

http://tulane.edu/cps/faculty/community-based-participatory-research.cfm;