Courses & Credits
Students must be available to enroll in two Action Lab courses during the semester of their project:
- LAAL 200 Action Research Methods in Hartford (meets on Monday afternoons, from 1:30-4:10 pm)
- LAAL 201 Hartford Research Project that meets either Tuesdays (1:30-4:10 pm or 6:30-9:10 pm) or Thursdays (1:30-4:10 pm) or Wednesdays (1:30-4:10 pm or 6:30-9:10 pm).
Both will be taught at our Trinity’s downtown campus (1 Constitution Plaza), and students will earn 2 Trinity College credits, which is the equivalent of 6 credits at CT State Community College Capital.
In some cases, students with a prior Research Methods course can be exempted from this course with permission of the instructor.
Fall 2025 Projects:
- Housing Equity Project with CT Tenants Union and Connecticut Fair Housing Center: The Connecticut Tenants Union and the Connecticut Fair Housing Center are dedicated to ensuring fair housing by combating discrimination, offering free legal services, and educating residents about their rights. How can the history of tenant organizing in Connecticut inform current efforts? Help research past tenant movements, including rent strikes, collective bargaining, and campaigns for rent stabilization and fair rent commissions, through archival research and oral history interviews. Your work will contribute to an archive that supports current tenant union organizing across the state.
- Transportation Equity and Parking Justice Project with Advocacy to Legacy, Inc.: The Hartford Parking Authority (HPA) regulates parking in the city, but its fines, fees, and penalties have raised concerns about their economic, mental health, and safety impacts on residents. How can these practices be made more equitable? Help research the HPA’s authority, ticket issuance trends, demographic data of ticket recipients, revenue generation, and the broader impact on Hartford residents. Your research will support local advocacy efforts and contribute to state and national initiatives aimed at eliminating driver’s license suspensions for unpaid fines, ensuring fair policies for Hartford residents.
- Inclusive Community Cinema Project with Cinestudio: Trinity’s Cinestudio is dedicated to fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of film and creating a vibrant community space that encourages dialogue, education, and engagement. How can Cinestudio become a more inclusive community space for Hartford residents near Trinity’s campus? Help research barriers to participation and identify strategies and best practices for inclusive community theaters.
Students Apply Here
- The application for Fall semester opens around mid-March and the application for Spring Semester opens around mid-October.
- While applications for Fall 2025 are now closed, students may still submit an application to be considered for the waitlist in case any spots become available.
- Note: The Transportation Equity and Parking Justice Project and the Housing Equity Project meet on Tuesdays from 1:30–4:10 PM, while the Inclusive Community Cinema Project meets on Wednesdays from 1:30–4:10 PM. Please consider these times when applying, and feel free to skip the ‘Project Course Time Preferences’ question on the form.