Community Engagement and Open Access: A Natural Partnership at the University of New Orleans

At the University of New Orleans, several campus health and safety centers use ScholarWorks@UNO to house and share their research and reports, supporting the health and safety of the community by making the works accessible.

We were curious about how ScholarWorks@UNO had developed such a notable strength in the area of community engagement, so we asked Jeanne Pavy, who manages the IR. As it turns out, developing these partnerships has been surprisingly uncomplicated. An environmental scan and an email offering the IR’s services to all of UNO’s research centers and institutes yielded big results from these community-oriented organizations. They’ve quickly become some of the IR’s most eager and consistent contributors, because their priorities for their research align so well with the IR’s strengths. It’s about discoverability: getting the research to the audience who can use it, sharing resources, and answering questions that directly impact the community.

To learn more about these communities, visit the links below.

• The Center for Hazards Assessment, Response and Technology (CHART) uses the IR to share research, recommendations, and best practices for addressing the environmental, technological, and security risks that face the port city of New Orleans and the larger region.
• The UNO Transportation Institute‘s IR collections include studies and reports promoting safe and sustainable transportation policies for the greater New Orleans area and the nation.
• The Department of Planning and Urban Studies publishes original faculty and student research on topics ranging from home ownership to urban renewal and commercial revitalization.
• The Survey Research Center posts the results of its biannual Quality-of-Life survey and other research influencing public policy and community planning.

Department of Planning and Urban Studies – University of New Orleans Research – ScholarWorks@UNO