Models and Assessment of Collaborative Research in the Arts and Humanities Focus on the WebCUR

The Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE), a campuswide program that invites faculty members and students from all disciplines to apply for grants that support collaborative research, has evolved, expanded, and drawn strength from an increased number of diverse projects in the arts and humanities (Figure 1). In fact, since the inception of ACRE in 1997, research collaborations in the arts and humanities have slowly but steadily provided a welcome avenue for introducing students to the benefits of extensive research training and opportunities to present at conferences. Several collaborative models in the arts and humanities have been especially beneficial at Albright College, serving as a very effective means for maintaining faculty members’ active research programs. Collaboration has contributed to the strength of ACRE applications and has become, perhaps, one of the most significant factors responsible for students’ eagerness to undertake projects that demonstrate their capacity for critical inquiry, ability to create new knowledge in a disciplinary context, and skills at sharing their learning beyond the classroom.