Collaborative Research from NACU Institutions Published in the Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Representatives from four member institutions of the New American Colleges and Universities (NACU) consortium have published research in the Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education. The article, titled “First-Year Intersections: Professional Preparation and Civic Engagement Across Four New American Colleges and Universities (NACU) Campuses,” provides valuable insights into how civic engagement in first-year courses reinforces career readiness by helping students think critically, communicate effectively, and work well with diversity. 

The collaborative project, which began in June 2019, brought together researchers from Florida Southern College, Nazareth University, North Central College, and Queens University of Charlotte. The multi-disciplinary faculty group sought to evaluate the effectiveness of their institutions’ defining approach to education. NACU is the only nationwide consortium of private, comprehensive colleges and universities dedicated to the purposeful integration of liberal education, professional studies, and civic engagement. This unique mission calls for member campuses to continually assess whether their pedagogies and curricula achieve this ambitious goal.

“Our research reflects the values that unite NACU institutions,” said co-author Shereen Ilahi, associate professor of history and coordinator of institutional assessment at North Central College. “By collaborating across campuses, we were able to examine how we are collectively preparing students to thrive as citizen professionals in a democratic society.”

The study leveraged the longstanding history of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among NACU campuses. Faculty from participating institutions implemented designated first-year courses designed to build, reinforce, and measure the links across liberal education, professional studies, and civic engagement. By conducting this study during the Fall 2019 and 2021 semesters, the researchers gained a unique perspective on how student experiences evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

“This research offers an important contribution to the field of higher education,” said co-author Jeffrey Thomas, professor of biology and director of general education at Queens University of Charlotte. “Our findings highlight the broad value of our institutions’ comprehensive educational approach to the liberal arts and provide insight for future research around liberal education and professional success.”

In addition to Ilahi and Thomas, the research was conducted by Chastity Blankenship and Andy Morris. The article is now available online at the Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education: https://jcehe.indianastate.edu/index.php/joce/article/view/866.