期刊名称:Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement
印刷版ISSN:1534-6102
出版年度:2007
卷号:11
期号:4
页码:134-146
语种:English
出版社:University of Georgia
摘要:Even at land-grant institutions, faculty seldom work with commercial retailers on community programs. Retailers can help with outreach and engagement programs because they provide the “natural habitat” for consumers the programs seek to address. Allied health, family science, and interior design faculty at the Ohio State University worked with Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores to bring information to the public on home modifications and universal design, a concept that advocates for environments for people of all ages and abilities. Lowe’s has collaborated in offering in-store workshops, products, and displays for consumers interested in making home modifications, as well as a universally designed model kitchen and bathroom. Because of differences in academic community and retail cultures, working together calls for flexibility; however, such collaboration can yield benefits to both partners. Retail store environments are not always ideal for teaching, but utilizing them can help academic outreach programs reach consumers.