The Transformative Social Impact Journal Podcast

Explore how service-learning partnerships are closing the digital divide in this 4:15 educational video for higher ed faculty and staff. Learn evidence-based strategies for co-designing sustainable, culturally responsive interventions that boost digital access, skills, and support systems while enhancing student learning outcomes and professional development. Featuring stock visuals, upbeat workplace music, and a middle-aged Britis...

Discover how universities quantify real-world impact with Social Return on Investment (SROI) in this clear, 5-minute explainer based on Dr. Jonathan H. Westover’s research. Learn practical steps for measuring social value in university-community partnerships, from stakeholder-inclusive mapping and financial proxies to integration with institutional systems. Perfect for university leaders, community partners, nonprofit staff, and st...

Discover how integrating lived experiences into audiology education is bridging the empathy gap and transforming hearing healthcare. This video explores a pioneering community-engaged learning (CEL) initiative at the University of Connecticut, where audiology students connect directly with individuals living with hearing loss through patient narratives and community meetings. By engaging with real stories from the book *Hear & ...

Dive into the fascinating world of cross-cultural parenting with this concise 5-minute video exploring Somali and Western child-rearing practices. Discover how deeply rooted cultural values, religious beliefs, and historical contexts shape parenting styles—from Western emphasis on individualism, autonomy, and gentle discipline to Somali traditions centered on collective responsibility, respect for elders, and hierarchical family st...

Discover how a major regional university’s Academic Service-Learning program generates over $6 million in economic value and fosters stronger community bonds! Based on Dr. Jonathan H. Westover’s groundbreaking research, this video explores how 9,142 students contributed 183,516 service hours in 2023-2024, creating a remarkable $192 return on every dollar invested. We dive into the program’s impact on student success, community part...

Discover how creative practice can transform university student mental health in this insightful 5-minute video inspired by the groundbreaking research from Donna Poade and Sue Langford. With student wellbeing at crisis levels, especially post-pandemic, creative initiatives offer a powerful, low-cost approach to reduce stress, boost confidence, and foster social connections. Learn about innovative activities—from drawing and creati...

Discover how Southern New Jersey is transforming community health through a groundbreaking Three County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)! This IRS-mandated project brings together Rutgers University and a local healthcare organization to explore health needs, barriers, and assets across Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties. Using surveys, focus groups, and interviews with community members and stakeholders, the CHNA u...

This article explores the integration of service-learning (SL) with a consulting approach within human resources (HR) education programs in higher education. We highlight the nature and importance of this andragogical approach, examining how it bridges the theory-practice gap, cultivates professional competencies, fosters civic engagement, and enhances student motivation and satisfaction. The article delves into the reasons why HR ...

Explore the intersection of spirituality and community in our latest video, "Food and Faith: Transforming Education through Service-Learning." In this engaging 5-minute presentation, we delve into a groundbreaking two-year study examining the impact of Service-Learning and Community Engagement (SLCE) in a General Education Religion course. Discover how integrating real-world applications can enhance civic engagement, critical think...

In this faculty spotlight, we will highlight two professors of education and their approach to teaching and modeling trauma-informed pedagogy. In their courses they are teaching pre-service teachers about trauma-informed pedagogy and taking intentional steps to build spaces within their higher education classrooms that are also trauma-informed. This allows students to experience what trauma-informed instruction feels like in practi...

In response to shifting higher education landscapes and increasing calls for civic engagement, a 'Service & Research Projects Hub' was scoped at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, a faculty of King’s College London, to evaluate the feasibility of connecting postgraduate students with local community organisations for collaborative dissertation research. Through mixed-methods evaluation involving 96 stak...

The purpose of this study was to understand what health related activities of residents living in transitional housing for the homeless increases their self-determination in managing their own health, what barriers exist, and what could nursing students do to increase their self-determination in managing their health. Methods: A qualitative approach using interviews, PhotoVoice, and observations was used. Twelve semi-structured int...

As the global population ages, the design field faces an urgent imperative to confront ageism and foster more inclusive practices. Yet age-inclusive design remains underrepresented in both education and professional settings—often treated as a niche concern rather than a universal human experience. This case study presents a two-part intervention that seeks to reframe aging as a creative, joyful, and necessary focus of design pract...

National homelessness rates are steadily rising, posing challenges in health care. Homelessness exacerbates health conditions, increasing chronic mental and medical diagnoses, while reducing traditional treatment efficacy Research highlights medical respite care as an effective intervention, improving post-hospitalization outcomes and reducing Emergency Department utilization, hospital stays, and readmissions. This literature revie...

The field of community-engaged learning continues to evolve, particularly as we focus on learning from the community partners involved in course-based partnerships. Traditional measures, such as surveys and interviews, are often used to gather insights from community partners; yet many argue that these partners remain the ‘unheard voices’ within the field. This study highlights the critical reflections of a community partner engage...

Families need support so that communities remain strong. The Stronger Families Project (SFP) at Utah Valley University is a unique and powerful resource in the communities surrounding the university. Families attend a free, eight-week, evidence-based family life education program aimed at teaching skills to parents, teens, and children that are necessary for healthy family life. The program is rooted in Family Systems Theory, offer...

Utah Valley University's Academic Service-Learning program represents a highly effective high-impact educational practice that delivers significant benefits to students, faculty, and the community. During 2023-2024, the program engaged over 9,000 students across 450 course sections, involving 375 faculty members and 1,000 community partners. Research demonstrates that service-learning participants experience enhanced learning outco...

In this episode, we delve into the groundbreaking findings of the "Service-Learning Community Partner Collaboration Prediction Model & Tool." Discover how student competencies and project outcomes influence future collaborations with community organizations. With insights gathered from 183 partners of a large public university, we examine 13 essential professional skills and their impact on project effectiveness. You'll learn a...

Discover how Dr. Jonathan H. Westover and Dr. Jacque P. Westover are transforming education through their innovative cross-course collaboration model at Utah Valley University. In this 10-minute video, we delve into their unique multidisciplinary approach, where upper-division students from organizational development, business statistics, and integrated studies join forces to tackle real-world consulting projects for the Women in B...