Assessment and Research

Tools and instruments for research and assessment

The goals of service learning and community engagement go beyond a desire to contribute positively to communities and to learning, but how do we know if these efforts are effective or that communities or students benefit?

Assessment, evaluation, and research are critical to demonstrating the effectiveness of these efforts to both academic and community stakeholders. The CSL has a longstanding commitment to developing evidence to support our work. Collectively, our work has led to the development of several frameworks and tools designed to study and to support the development of civic-mindedness among students and professionals. This commitment has also yielded systemic inquiry into the dimensions and relational outcomes of community-academic partnerships.

The results of these efforts have yielded longitudinal research on IUPUI students involved in service learning and deepened partnerships with organizations throughout Indianapolis and beyond. Use the links below to learn more about tools and instruments you can use when conducting research and assessment on service learning and community engagement.

Civic-minded graduate

The civic-minded graduate is a person who has completed a course of study and has the capacity and desire to work with others to achieve the common good.

Civic-minded professional

A civic-minded professional is one who is skillfully trained through formal education with the ethical disposition as a social trustee of knowledge and the capacity to work with others in a democratic way to achieve public good.

SOFAR model

Staff members have developed a graphic reflection and assessment process to support campuses and communities in improving communication and network building based on the SOFAR model of partnerships.

IUPUI service learning taxonomy

Based on an extensive literature review on service learning research and best practices, six essential attributes of service learning courses have been identified.

Previous program partnerships

Partnerships are at the heart of community engagement, CSL’s work, and IUPUI’s mission.

TRES scale

The Transformational Relationship Evaluation Scale (TRES) (V1. & V.2) were developed to support both the study of effective community-university partnerships as well as contribute to improving the practice of partnerships.

Publication and reports

Research publications and evaluation reports are available on the the center's ScholarWorks site. Among the works included on this are studies on:

Please note that the links above will take you to where these items are located on the ScholarWorks site.

Center for Service & Learning