As AU Honors students, the Challenge Course is an instrumental component of our curriculum. It is a semester-long research opportunity where we work in self-selected groups to explore a topic that corresponds to shared interests. We are required to approach professors and choose a faculty mentor to guide our project. In doing so, the team highly considers the mentor’s academic and professional background, being sure their expertise aligns with the inquiry agenda and overall research objectives. Ultimately, completion of the project requires strong communication, critical thinking, attention to detail, cooperation, and organization. 

 

Curious about how international and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation students interact within American University’s culturally-based clubs, we wanted to know how these clubs influence the campus experience. While community engagement is a major component of the university’s mission, this research followed a meaningful agenda. Our study responses can be used in application to improving campus life. Whether or not students feel connected is of a certain importance when students are immersed in unfamiliar environments; cultural clubs may facilitate growth within nonnative settings. 

 

Acknowledging our own position as college students, we were driven to deliver the research using a website format. We considered those we were surveying and what their preferences may be in terms of scrutinizing the inquiry findings. Honestly, a technologically oriented, youthful selection of university students seems more inclined to skim our site. In a world constantly revolving around the internet, information dissemination through virtual channels is the most suitable way to present an interaction project.