Being engaged in the community is USC Upstate's passion.

COMMUNITY BASED RESEARCH

The following study is a comprehensive analysis of demographic and wellbeing data that reflect community conditions related to racial equity in Spartanburg County. Commissioned by the Spartanburg Community Indicators Project (SCIP), the original intent of this study was a review of health equity data. However, it became immediately apparent that issues of health equity are actually driven by issues of racial equity. Therefore, the project was broadened and reconceived as a review of the data that drive and / or reflect racial equity generally.

Spartanburg Racial Equity Index PDF Document Download

Spartanburg Racial Equity Index

USC Upstate aims to support research efforts between the University and the community, enhance relationships, promote the reciprocal flow of information and ideas, assist community and economic development, and increase the strategic use of the University’s scholarship and outreach capabilities.

We engage in select community-based research and assessment projects, most notably the Spartanburg Community Indicators Project. In addition, we produce various translational research studies throughout the Upstate of South Carolina, including public health studies, economic impact studies, program evaluation studies, needs assessments, feasibility studies, and survey research.

What Is Community-Based Research?

Community-based research is a collaborative effort between academic researchers and non-academy based community members that aims to generate social action and positive change through the use of multiple knowledge sources and research methods. If you are interested in working with the USC Upstate, please contact Pam Steinke.

What We Do

Data offers a powerful way to better understand the community, plan for future, or evaluate what is working in the community, but making sense of data, using it in planning, and more is not always easy. Our researchers offer many different types of reports and assessments to help understand the data that will support community projects and initiatives. To find out more about each type of offering, please refer to each type below.

Community Indicators

Community Indicators present data that help communities answer the question: Are we there yet? Indicators measure what the community cares about and track whether the community is moving in the right direction. Indicators provide essential guidance for action.

Example: Spartanburg Community Indicators project