Community Research Partnerships
Partner with the University of Mississippi to tackle real-world challenges through research-driven solutions that strengthen communities across Mississippi and beyond.
Building community solutions together
The University of Mississippi has a long tradition of partnering with communities across Mississippi and beyond to address real-world challenges. Our faculty and researchers bring expertise and experience to help you identify issues, collect and analyze meaningful data, and implement practical, actionable solutions tailored to your community’s specific needs.
No matter where you live in Mississippi, let us be a resource that helps you harness the power of research and innovative thinking to build stronger, more resilient communities.
Working side by side with you, our experts offers knowledge and guidance that align directly with your community’s priorities. Together, we can create lasting impacts through research-driven strategies and innovative solutions that truly resonate with your residents.
Leverage University Expertise to Find Solutions
Use our resources to find experts who match your specific needs and begin building collaborations that make a difference.
Research centers that provide community, education, and citizen support
The university has a wide variety of resources to assist communities all over the state. Whether you need research assistance to form data-driven decisions, want to improve a community problem, or wish to explore ways to enrich the lives of residents in your town, it’s worth your time to explore how the University of Mississippi might partner with you to achieve great things for your citizenry.
Below, we’ve highlighted a few centers and institutes that have an explicit strong community focus. However, there are many more collaboration opportunities than what is listed below. You can view all centers and institutes by areas of interest for more details.
- Center for Research Evaluation CERE works with community leaders, educators, and businesses to evaluate and analyze needs in your community. We specialize in evaluating the impact of work, processes, and program design to improve the quality and the value of work being done. We help you identify novel ways to view problems, evaluate your work, and enhance the lives of those you serve.
- The Community First Research Center for Wellbeing and Creative Achievement, or CREW, is a community-focused research center at the University of Mississippi that invites communities across the state to reach out with their research and data needs to improve wellbeing and health. CREW plays a role in connecting the needs and dreams of communities with academic expertise.
- Center for Community Engagement The Center for Community Engagement is the University of Mississippi’s dedicated unit focused on elevating, celebrating, and sustaining excellence in community engagement across all Colleges, units, and departments. Learn about this center’s programs and initiatives by visiting the site.
- The Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement empowers campus and community partners to fight poverty through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.Please visit the site to learn more about signature initiatives housed in The Grisham-McLean Institute focused on improving the quality of life in Mississippi.
- Mississippi Law Research Institute The MLRI is an official advisory law revision, research and reform agency of the state. It provides unbiased, nonpolitical law research for the Legislature, municipalities, universities and state agencies. It is also the home of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program and the National Sea Grant Law Center, programs providing legal research and publications relating to coastal, environmental, and maritime issues.
- Clinic for Outreach and Personal Enrichment (COPE) Under the supervision of state licensed counselors, the student interns in the clinic provide free mental health care both in person and via telehealth across the state of Mississippi.
- Economic Development Economic Development at the Office for Research and Economic Development helps connect your community to expertise within the university.
- Center for Math and Science Education This center helps support STEM education and improvement efforts related to math and science across MS.
- Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction The Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction prepares reading and literacy teachers to teach all children, especially those in Mississippi who are in low socioeconomic-status districts.
- The Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning serves all stakeholders in early childhood education across Mississippi and beyond. Our team of researchers and pre-K specialists seek to provide collaborative leadership and research-based information concerning child development, education, policy decisions and more.
- Mississippi Geographic Alliance The Mississippi Geographic Alliance provides high-quality geography education services including: outreach to civic leaders and policymakers, awareness raising among the general public, unique student outreach programs, and professional development for K-12 educators.
- National Center for School-University Partnerships This partnership aims to foster the growth of leaders and educators. The community is focused on addressing persistent issues that confront districts, schools, and their respective communities. The group facilitates discussions surrounding common dilemmas, shares successful strategies, and engages in role-alike conversations, improvement reviews, and collective problem-solving and planning through the application of improvement science.
How to get started
Our Community Engagement resource provides examples of both community-focused and student service focused activity. If you’re not sure how to begin engaging with Ole Miss for community programs or research, this is the place to start! To speak to someone who can help you connect to the right faculty or department, please contact research@olemiss.edu and reference your interest or question about community engagement in your message. Someone will reply to your message within two working days.
Involve students in your community
Partner with Students
Looking to involve students in your work as part of a class assignment, research project, or service initiative but not sure where to start? Explore ways to collaborate.
Explore Student Volunteer Opportunities
The University of Mississippi uses GivePulse to track community engagement and connect organizations with volunteers. This platform links students, professionals, civic leaders, and community partners with meaningful service opportunities.
If your organization does not have a GivePulse account, you can create a group on GivePulse and get connected to our network. Please reach out to the Center for Community Engagement with your questions at engaged@olemiss.edu or (662) 915-3196.