engagement

Duke University School Research Partnership Office

The Duke University School Research Partnership (SRP) Office facilitates collaboration between Duke researchers and area school districts to create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships. The SRP Office strives to serve as a portal between Duke and the school districts and to assist researchers in getting their studies placed in schools. This function streamlines processes to maximize the benefits of the research conducted for school districts, schools, students and Duke researchers. Researchers include faculty and students from Duke University, Duke University Medical Center and other organizations collaborating with Duke on specific research projects.

Memo regarding student research in Durham Public Schools

Some of the services of the SRP Office:

• Facilitate the planning and placement of school-based research projects.
• Promote research collaborations between schools and Duke researchers by awarding grants and fellowships to faculty and graduate students.
• Disseminate research findings via an annual research conference, annual research summaries and other print or online publications.

Services for Duke researchers:

• Provide information about research protocols for area public schools (and nonpublic and other schools with which the SRP Office works). The School Research Partnership Manual summarizes this information.
• Provide information about research protocols for area public schools (and nonpublic and other schools with which the SRP Office works).
• Consult on the best way to present research projects to schools to maximize mutual benefit for the researcher and the school and to increase the likelihood that the proposal will be supported.
• Provide assistance with proposal submissions to area school districts.
• Assist researchers in identifying schools in which to place their studies after a proposal has been approved by the school system.

Services for school districts:

• Oversee the annual Duke University School Research Fellowship grant to address priorities and research questions of schools.
• Hold an annual event to present and discuss faculty and student research findings of interest to school representatives and Duke researchers.
• Identify experts among Duke faculty and researchers to provide consultation to schools and school districts, upon request.
• Disseminate research findings via print and online publications.

Duke Research Consultation Program - An Initiative of the SRP Office

• Program Overview - In this program, undergraduates function as research assistants/consultants for Durham Public School staff members, e.g., principals, school board members, and administrative staff, as well as for leaders of other agencies and organizations. These students work under the supervision of a Duke faculty member or Research Scientist to address questions of specific interest to their community partner as part of an independent study class they are taking. This is a regular full credit class at Duke for which students receive a final grade. Spring 2011 is the fourth semester of this partnership.
• The goal of this program is to provide the partner with research-based information that they do not have the capacity or time to obtain while students gain experience researching issues of current concern to real-world policy makers and practitioners. Students also gain valuable experience in working for a "client." Projects can range from reviews of the existing literature on a topic to original data collection. To review policy briefs that students completed for their community partner during Spring 2011, click here .