Drexel University’s Side-By-Side Community-Based learning course format is an evolution of Temple University’s Inside-Out International Prison Exchange program. The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is an international initiative directed at transforming ways of thinking about crime and justice. The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program brings campus-enrolled and incarcerated students together as classmates in post secondary courses built around dialogue, collaboration, and experiential learning.  Moreover, the high-impact practice challenges faculty and students to address social justice issues inherent in community-based work such as the intersections of race, class and gender (Davis & Roswell, 2013).

In 2011 Drexel University organized an Inside-Out specialized training for faculty, staff and community partners. The group committed to piloting the existing program outside of correctional institutions and brought the high-impact practice to local community settings. Since Side-By-Side’s development, courses have been offered with community partners in local anti-poverty organizations, urban farms, minority entrepreneur and small business support services, senior living facilities and Drexel’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships.

This unique course format brings college students and community residents or organizations together in classes taught by distinguished Drexel faculty. The goal of the courses are to create a mutually respectful learning environment where everyone can learn from each other and benefit from the experiences and perspectives of their classmates.  We welcome members of our community to join these classes to learn and to share in this active learning model. so we may work together to co-create solutions to social problems.  There is no cost to community students and all materials are provided. There is not an education requirement for participation. Everyone has unique knowledge and experience to contribute to the course.

For more information, please contact Cyndi Rickards at crr46@drexel.edu or 215.571.3734