Rice Faculty Members and Civic Research and Design  

As part of the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), the Office of Fellowships and Undergraduate Research supports community-based faculty research and design.  We seek to identify community-based projects that enhance/complement Rice faculty research and design interests.  We encourage faculty to engage in civic research and design through the Office of Fellowships and Undergraduate Research in two ways: 

 • Teach civic research and design courses 

 • Supervise undergraduate civic research and design projects 

Civic Research and Design Courses 

Civic research and design (CRD) courses are primarily upper-level undergraduate courses that are built around, or include, a significant community-based research or design project.  Each course must meet the criteria outlined in the course guidelines. Highlights of the guidelines include: 

 • A major assignment that is a community-based research or design project. 

 • The generation of a "product" that could be utilized by a community partner.  The product should be appropriate for the subject matter.  For example, a CRD course in architecture might include a design project; a CRD course in economics might include a financial analysis of a nonprofit; a CRD course in engineering might include an analysis of flooding during hurricane conditions; and a CRD course in humanities might include recording oral histories of racial and ethnic group experiences.  All of these projects would focus on the community. 

 • When possible, the major assignment should include interaction for students with a community partner or the community at-large. This may include working with community partners to help define the research or design problem, conduct the research, and/or present the research findings. 

 • A structured process of critical reflection on the intellectual and civic aspects of the student's community experiences. 

 • A public presentation of student work to campus or community audiences.  This may include in-class presentations or forums such as the Rice Undergraduate Research Symposium (RURS).  

The scope and nature of CRD projects will vary by class and subject matter.  A list of current and previous CRD courses is available on the courses page. 

 If you are interested in offering a CRD course, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Vann, Associate Director of Civic Research and Design, evann@rice.edu, x3978.   

Advising Civic Research and Design Projects through the CCE Fellows Program 

The CCE Fellows Program provides Rice undergraduate students from all disciplinary fields the opportunity to work directly with faculty and community partners on research or design projects that will benefit the Houston community. Through the Office of Fellowships and Undergraduate Research, CCE Fellows receive a stipend, program support, and, if needed, research space in the Center for Civic Engagement. The CCE Fellows Program takes place over the summer. Fellows are expected to work 40 hours per week on their research or design projects and meet regularly with their faculty advisors and community partners.  

Faculty advisors for CCE Fellows may be identified in a number of ways:   

• A faculty member who teaches a Civic Research and Design course, or another course that includes a community-based research or design component, may recommend that a student with special promise apply for the CCE Fellows Program to continue or expand work begun in the class, with the understanding that the recommending faculty will agree to serve as the faculty advisor should the student be chosen as a CCE Fellow.  

 • A faculty member with an on-going or developing Houston community-based research or design project who can provide opportunities for Rice undergraduate students to participate directly in the research or design process may propose the project to the Office of Fellowships and Undergraduate Research.  Our office will then help to identify students whose academic interests and knowledge and skill sets best suit the proposed project.  Although our office works closely with the Rice undergraduate student body and is knowledgeable about undergraduate student research interests and capabilities, we cannot guarantee to match students with all faculty projects.  Further, once prospective students have been identified, those students must work with the faculty to develop a research plan, and the student must submit a CCE Fellows application to be considered for one of the Fellows slots. 

• A student who has taken a Civic Research and Design course, or another course that includes a community-based research or design component, and who has special and enduring interest in the course material, may approach the faculty instructor with a project proposal and invite the faculty member to serve as the advisor, should the student be chosen as a CCE Fellow. 

• A student who has worked independently or directly with a community partner on a research or design project, and who is applying to the CCE Fellows Program, may ask a faculty member with related research interests to serve as a faculty advisor. 

Our goal is to encourage community-based faculty research by supporting student researchers.  We hope the resources provided by the Office of Fellowships and Undergraduate Research enable faculty members to acquire outside research funds that benefit their research and their department. 

If you are interested in serving as a faculty advisor for a CCE Fellows project, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Vann, Associate Director of Civic Research and Design, evann@rice.edu, x3978.