Research Initiatives

The initiatives of the Institute for Collaboration offer significant opportunities for research. The current research effort focuses on the after school program MyTime.Club.

Led by Dr. Doug Kieso, Professor of Criminal Justice at Aurora University, a university research team is analyzing the learning and behavior changes in middle school students who participate in the program and comparing them to students who do not. The research study funded by the university will answer three questions:

• Does the AU/City of Aurora after school program increase the social capital of its adolescent participants?
• Does the AU/City of Aurora after school program lead to increased engagement and motivation of adolescents in developing their life and academic skills?
• To what degree and in what ways does the AU/City of Aurora after school program reduce delinquent behaviors among adolescents during high incident times?

The study team, which includes Aurora University students, will gather information through questionnaires administered to participants in the program as well as youth who are not participants. Surveys will include time spent on activities, disciplinary issues, academic achievement, and social and communication skills.