Abstract
An ongoing challenge in higher education is helping students connect academic theories to real-world applications, often leading to disengagement and a decline in critical thinking. At Sam Houston State University, instructors developed a multidisciplinary Academic Community Engagement (ACE) project to address this issue, blending a Communication Studies course with a Public Health course. This collaborative initiative requires students from different disciplines to apply classroom theories to meet the needs of a community partner. The shared goal is not only to foster a deeper understanding of academic concepts but also to encourage critical thinking through real-world problem-solving. However, implementing such a project presented challenges in course design and administrative coordination, which had to be navigated to ensure success. This presentation explores how the ACE project overcame these obstacles, highlighting its impact on student engagement, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the enhancement of critical thinking skills. Attendees will gain insight into creating similar community-focused, multidisciplinary projects.
Presenters
Dena HorneLecturer, Communication Studies, Sam Houston State University, Texas, United States Adannaa Alexander
Clinical Assistant Professor, Public Health, Sam Houston State University, Texas, United States Frances E Brandau
Professor, Communication Studies, Sam Houston State University, Texas, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Past and Present in the Humanistic Education
KEYWORDS
Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Academic Community Engagement, Course Design, Active Learning, Community Focused
