Urban Action Institute (UAI)

Urban Action Institute (UAI)

Preparing students to meet the challenges that face our urban environment
About Areas of Work Worcester State Teaching Garden Older Student Registration
IN THIS SECTION
Contact Us
Sullivan Academic Center
Office S-134
uai@worcester.edu
508-929-8900

Get to know the Urban Action Institute

The Urban Action Institute (UAI) is the outreach and community action arm of Worcester State University’s Urban Studies department. The UAI collaborates with students, faculty, and community partners to address social, political, and economic injustices through field-based learning and advocacy for a more equitable city. The Urban Action Institute aims to contribute to a world where the collaborative approach it embraces becomes mainstream.

UAI News

New UAI assistant director brings student-focused perspective

“When we interviewed Midaly we felt like she had a really positive student-focused perspective,” said Adam Saltsman, associate professor of Urban Studies and director of the UAI. “She’s really interested in listening to students and understanding them so she can help them navigate the challenges of being in college, but she also wants to help push them to go one step further and do the kind of engaged work that UAI tries to do out in the community and within the University.”

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Empty Bowls fundraiser combats food insecurity, fosters community

The annual Empty Bowls fundraiser was held Nov. 14 in the exhibit area of the Student Center. The Urban Action Institute, which is the outreach and community action arm of the Urban Studies Department, partnered with Chartwell’s and the Student Government Association for the event to promote hunger awareness and provide resources to students in need.

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Shared Scholarship Series highlights research on food insecurity and water pollution

The Shared Scholarship Series resumed for its tenth year on Friday, January 26, with presentations by Danielle Morales, assistant professor in the Urban Studies Department, and Laura Reynolds, assistant professor in the Earth, Environment, and Physics Department.

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Worcester State University announces Housing Justice Summit open to the community

Worcester State University will bring together community organizations, affordable housing advocates, housing experts, and city officials Tuesday, March 12, for its first Housing Justice Summit. The half-day event is open to the public.

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Community leaders tackle housing justice at university summit

Worcester State University brought together community organizations, affordable housing advocates, housing experts, and city officials on March 12 for its first Housing Justice Summit.

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Grassroots initiative to provide meals for students gets boost from donor

Worcester State students are not immune to food insecurity. A Worcester State Urban Action Institute self-study conducted before the pandemic revealed that close to a third of the university’s students struggle with hunger.

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Areas of work
The Urban Action Institute (UAI) aims to enable students and community members of all ages and backgrounds to work for an equitable world. Work is conducted in different formats, including community fieldwork courses, events, workshops, etc. The UAI also oversees and manages the Worcester State Teaching Garden and Older Student Registration.
Social Justice
Working with community partners on initiatives that defend human rights and the struggle for equity across the greater Worcester area, including work on issues of racial and economic justice, LGBTQ rights, environmental justice and diversity.
Educational Collaboration
Partnering with students from across the education system to identify pathways to academic success in which they can build leadership and active citizenship skills through mentorship initiatives that emphasize inclusive communities, social justice, collective good, global citizenship, and intergenerational solidarity.
Inclusion & Equity
Seeking and supporting initiatives that strive to make Worcester and WSU an inclusive and equitable place for all, including newcomer communities and those who have been historically under-served or excluded.
Sustainability
Building off the idea of "the commons" for a just city; working to expand and protect collective resources on campus and in the city that are maintained by engaged urban residents for the benefit of larger communities.
Advocacy & Leadership
Co-producing knowledge with students of all ages in order to collectively speak up for change in their communities on the city, state, and federal level.
Global Citizenship
Forging connections between WSU students and the greater Worcester community to address global issues locally as well as abroad through advocacy, outreach, and transformative action.
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Educational Collaboration

WSU Teaching Garden

The WSU Teaching Garden is located at 531 Chandler Street, across from the Ghosh Science and Technology Center. This outdoor classroom provides many different learning opportunities across all the various disciplines at WSU and within the Worcester community. Some of the community partners that work with us at the WSU Teaching Garden include: Chandler Magnet School, Bet Shalom, and the Regional Environmental Council.
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Urban Studies Community Fieldwork Course (UR-142-01)

Garden

In this course, you will work at the WSU Teaching Garden with students of Chandler Magnet School. Some of the experiential learning topics to learn from in this course include: planting and growing, eating nutritious food, and sustainable living. This course is offered only in the fall semester.
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Urban Studies Community Fieldwork Course (UR-242-01)

SNAP

In this course, you will participate in campaigns to raise hunger awareness on campus as well as within the community. Some of the experiential learning topics to learn from in this course include: how to help individuals apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) benefits and staff the SNAP office on campus.
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Urban Studies Community Fieldwork Course (UR-142-OL1 and UR-142-OL2)

English Language Learning

This is an experiential learning opportunity to work with Worcester’s immigrant and refugee populations as they strive to integrate in the United States and learn English. Some of the experiential learning topics to learn from in this course include: how to be a tutor and a cultural ambassador for learners from all over the world.
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Urban Studies Community Fieldwork Course (UR-142-02)

Youth Leadership

This is an experiential learning opportunity to support an after-school program at the offices of African Community Education. Some of the experiential learning topics to learn from in this course include: how to be a mentor, provide homework support, and take part in leadership skill-building activities with youth members of Worcester’s African immigrant community.

Older Student Registration

Older students may now take courses in-person! Massachusetts residents age 60 and older may be eligible for per credit tuition and fee waivers on a space available basis at WSU. The Urban Action Institute assists with older student registration prior to fall and spring semesters. Eligible older students register directly with the Registrar’s Office for undergraduate courses and the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education for evening and graduate courses for winter and summer sessions.

  • Older Student Registration will open on: 

    • Winter Session: Thursday, December 19th @ 9am
    • Spring Semester: Thursday, January 16th @ 9am

    Winter Session older student registration: 

    • Winter Session Course Offerings
    • Email your course registration form to: dgce@worcester.edu 
    • In-person registration will be available in the DGCE office on the fourth floor of the Shaughnessy Administration Building if you experience any issues with registering online.

    Spring Semester older student registration:

    In-person registration will be available in the Registrar’s Office (on the first floor of the Shaughnessy Administration Building) if you experience any issues with registering online.

    For continuing education or graduate: review the list of classes:

    • Spring 2025 classes [coming soon]
      • Once you have selected your course, you will need to complete the fillable Older Student Registration Packet (which includes the Older Student Registration Commonwealth Tuition Waiver Form*). Enter your information and the class(es) you want to register for. In the Method of Payment section, please type in “Older Student” on the line by “Student Name”. Save a copy of the completed registration form.
      • For those applying via email, send the completed packet to registrar@worcester.edu. You must also email a scan or copy of your Massachusetts Driver’s License verifying your age. You must be a resident of Massachusetts and be over 60 to be eligible for the tuition and fee waiver*.
      • All students should watch the required Online Orientation video, posted below.
      • If you have previously taken a course at Worcester State University using this tuition waiver, you do not need to provide documentation of your residency or age.
Contact Us
Sullivan Academic Center
Office S-134
uai@worcester.edu
508-929-8900