College Networks Lab
What We Do
The College Networks Lab focuses on relational networks, especially college student networks, and the ways that higher education institutions can shape them in ways that may reproduce or interrupt inequality. We are interested in how learning environments, policies, and practices facilitate and constrain opportunities for connection and the educational outcomes of student networks. We study environments such as classrooms (physical and virtual), learning communities, and student affairs programming. We use primarily social network analysis and mixed methods in our research.
We use networks to inform individual student learning and organizations. Our work includes:
- Individual students - Network-based reflection tools help students learn about the social networks that support their college transition, professional development, and moral/ethical development.
- Student communities - We look at how educational environmental choices (such as physical structures or pedagogical or programmatic choices) shape resulting student academic and social networks.
- Programs & organizations - We conduct network-based assessment to help organizations make decisions about policies, practices, and organizational structure.
- Assessment & evaluation - We help you build network tools to assess students' community building and your programmatic outcomes.
The Lab is co-directed by Dr. Rachel Smith at Iowa State University and Dr. Michael Brown at the University of Michigan.