Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Balancing Pedagogy and Partnerships in an Undergraduate Community-Based Research Class

Community-based research (CBR) as a form of community-engaged learning (CEL) offers students valuable sociological practice and learning experiences. Although CEL strategies are well documented for enhancing students’ sociological imagination, gaps persist in the literature regarding the impact on community partners. This article addresses the challenges and opportunities inherent in CEL, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that enhances student learning while maintaining meaningful community partnerships. Through a case study of an undergraduate CBR class, this article highlights the instructor’s role in building authentic community-academic relationships, providing a blueprint for designing high-impact pedagogical practices with real-world applications. Employing qualitative interviews focused on students’ and community partners’ experiences, the study probes power dynamics, potential inequalities, and time-intensive aspects. It introduces an instructor-anchored partnership model incorporating team-based learning, addressing these complexities and presenting a framework for effective community-based learning in sociological education.