SPARROWS

Grow your research skills—and your community

In SPARROWS, or the Student Participatory Action Research for Resources and Opportunity for Wellness and Success program, students engage in real-world social science academic research while building connections with peers and mentors.  

The goal is to offer data-informed insights into students’ lives, learning, and well-being to help educators, students, and the IU community enhance programming to better understand what supports and hinders student success, community, and wellness.

SPARROWS students build their research skills while also helping improve the college experience for students who come after them. Students can decide the extent of their participation based on other commitments since the project is self-paced.

This program introduces students to what research is, therefore no previous research experience is required. Staff will provide multiple resources and supports students in developing these skills. This is a great program for those who are unsure or would like to learn more about research. For those with prior experience, this program can provide space for you to work on your own interests, lead projects, and deepen your existing skills.

Applications are due on Monday, September 14. The program will run for the entire year.

Apply for SPARROWS

Contact us

Dr. Nikeetha Farfan D'Souza
Associate Director of Bias Response and Student Support 
IU Office of Student Life 

Phone: (812) 855-1727
Email: nfarfand@iu.edu

Cedric Harris
Assistant Dean for Student Support and Bias Education

Phone: 812-855-8187
Email: cwharris@iu.edu

Please note:

  • Students must be enrolled at IU Bloomington currently to participate.
  • This is not a paid position. You will receive all resources needed to complete your project, which includes a small amount to purchase promotional materials for recruitment.
  • This is not a course. So, you don’t need to pay to attend and will not receive credit.
  • It is FREE research program for students.
  • You will receive a certificate for participation or excellence from the Dean of Students office.
  • Students can return the following year to continue their project or start a new one.
  • Students will always have access to all resources in SPARROWS as Alumni members, even if they don’t participate in the following years.
  • All meetings are in person, unless there is an emergency.

Learn more about the program

We meet twice a month in the IMU, with students choosing to attend on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday at 5:15 p.m.

Want to learn more about the program and what to expect? Join us and your peers for an orientation meeting on Friday, September 11, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

RSVP on beINvolved

SPARROWS goals

SPAROWS students learn distinct types of social science research methods like interviews and surveys, along with various forms of both quantitative and qualitative analysis, through real-world engagement in authentic research studies they design and lead with consistent support from staff.

We hope through research and reflection, students will have the opportunity to explore and deeply understand their own lives and others, their relation to success and community, in turn building better relationships and thriving communities.

This program is designed to center equitable access, success, and wellness for all students through an intersectional disability justice lens that encourages nontraditional students. SPAROWS welcomes students with chronic illness, first-generation students, low-income students, international students, etc., to take partas they often don'thave access due to normative expectations. 

We hopeto inform the IU community (staff, students, faculty)and the community at large about students’ daily lives and give insight into what leads to learning, success, and wellness. Our goalis that thesedata-informed insights into students’ lives will guide programming and improve university structure.