The Transformative Social Impact Journal Podcast

Discover how UConn’s FLIP program empowers first-generation high school students through financial literacy, mentorship, and immersive college exposure. In this 5-minute video, hear real stories of transformation, learn how six Saturdays on campus build confidence in budgeting, investing, and college planning, and see how alumni return as mentors to create a cycle of support. Ideal for educators,...

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 workpl...

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, communit...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 m...

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 arti...

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 enhan...

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-inform...

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-m...

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 w...

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,...

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...

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 reflec...

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 roo...

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...

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 pr...

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 con...

Title: Cultivating Cross-Course Collaboration: A Model for Student Consulting Projects Authors/Presenters: By Jonathan H. Westover and Jacque P. Westover Abstract: This discusses a unique cross-course collaborative model implemented at Utah Valley University between organizational development and change, advanced business statistics, and integrated studies courses. This fall semester, upper-divisi...

From the article: "Why should organizations develop corporate social impact initiatives? First, we need to openly acknowledge that companies have a social contract with their surrounding communities. As companies directly benefit from the shared community infrastructure, organizations have a responsibility to give back to and directly benefit their communities, and not just through providing jobs....