Student Retention through Community Partnerships: Can We Do Better?

Student Retention through Community Partnerships: Can We Do Better? 

This proposal is designed to review literature and investigate the successes of conducting action research or community-based participatory research (CBPR) in marginalized communities. In particular, could this inform MSU Northern college faculty and staff in adopting policies, processes and activities including implementing CBPR practices and projects into their classrooms? Could this collaborative approach where community members, organizational representatives and researchers engage in all aspects of the investigation and contribute expertise, decision making and ownership be woven into the fabric of course work, program outcomes and ultimately student success? Would this outcome adjustment improve engagement and learning of all students including their American Indian students? Finally, might MSU Northern faculty be interested in developing the skill sets to support a curricula upgrade to course and program requirements once they acquire the knowledge, skills and support to make this transition?