Community Engaged Research

What is Community Engaged Research (CER)?

Community Engaged Research (CER) is a collaborative, inclusive research approach that involves community members, organizations, and researchers as equal partners throughout the research process. CER ensures that those most impacted by the research play a central role in it, from co-designing research questions to shaping interventions and policies.

At CoLab, students can participate in CER projects as part of coursework, fellowships, or faculty-led initiatives. 

A past research project in Gonzalez, California is a prime example of how MIIS researchers worked closely with local partners. Through a partnership with key contacts in the Gonzales community, the project investigated how political climate impacts immigrant K-8 students and their families. A team of Middlebury Institute of International Studies researchers engaged in community-based relationship building as well as data collection through online questionnaires and interviews with parents, school personnel, and community officials. Read more about the Gonzales CoLab.

CER Resources

• CER Toolkit: Literature Review
• A Quick-Start Guide for Researchers