Collaborative Community Capstone

Catalog description

In this alternative capstone project course, students from diverse disciplines work in collaboration with community partners on projects that are defined and supported by residents with community organizations in Rochester and around the world. Community organizations have extensive knowledge about their environment, passion for their work, power to make change in the lives of individuals and their community, and the ability to inspire others…but have not typically enjoyed as much access to the resources of Universities as industry and government. This course seeks to strengthen connections and build relationships between the University and community groups. Students receive team coaching from a Collaborative Community Capstone guide as well as advising from an expert in their discipline as they work on their project. The traditional capstone experiences of teamwork, planning, project management and application of disciplinary learning are supplemented by coaching around best practices for authentic community engagement that is sensitive to cultural, economic and power differentials, grows trusting relationships, and promotes project outcomes that support community wellbeing. In this course, students will gain strategies and confidence in working with diverse partners using democratic principles, consider the ethical and social implications of their civic participation and professional work, and join an inspirational team of people working together for a better world—all while completing their capstone requirements. Each semester the course will follow a Plan, Do, Check, Act, Reflect process. Students taking the course as an alternative to Multidisciplinary Senior Design will take the course twice, doing additional work on the same project.