Journalism is about sharing stories that connect, resonate and impact people's lives. During the past academic year, Special Collections staff connected with students who aspire to become the next generation of reporters and storytellers through the Faculty Teaching in the Archives Grant Program, helping them hone their research skills. 

The Faculty Teaching in the Archives Grant Program allows faculty members of any discipline to design interactive, archive-centered lessons for their classes.  

 
Recently, Geoff Campbell, senior lecturer in the Department of Communication, was one of the 2024–2025 grant recipients and partnered with Special Collections to bring this hands-on learning experience to his students. 

"Geoff's project was to have the students write stories for their class assignment based on a then-and-now approach, looking at something from Arlington's past and seeing what has happened to that place," said Evan Spencer, Outreach and Instruction Archivist. "One student researched the Arlington Downs horse racing track, which later became an auto racing track in the late 1940s. Others were intrigued by the mineral well fountain that once served as downtown's main gathering spot." 

For students in the Reporting and Data Journalism classes, the project was an exciting way to discover Arlington's history, often for the first time. 

"Many students commute to campus for school and don't have deep ties with the community," Spencer said. "So, it was great to give them this opportunity to engage with the city through the lens of the past." 

The Faculty Teaching in the Archives Grant offers more than just a class assignment; it provides real-world experience.  

With Campbell’s project students learn to locate and analyze primary sources, conduct in-depth research and create professional-level work they can share with employers. Some of these stories are even being published on "The Arlington Sentinel News," a website created by UTA's Department of Communication to deliver community news while giving students professional reporting experience. 

"One important thing to Geoff and us is that this creates real-world experience for students," Spencer said. "They're doing it for a class grade first, but then they have the opportunity to develop it into a published piece for people to read, which is tremendous." 

The work with journalism students will continue in the fall, with more stories highlighting the university and the local community. The grant is open to any faculty member of any discipline who wants to add a new experiential element to their coursework.  
 
Faculty interested in applying for the Faculty Teaching in the Archives Grant can submit applications between February and May 2026. 

Ultimately, these projects are about more than coursework; they're about connection to people from the past and in the present. Students in Campbell’s class left Special Collections with  sharper research and reporting skills, a deeper sense of place, a stronger link to Arlington's history, and published stories that leave their own mark on the community. 

Learn more about the grant on the UTA Libraries' website.