EDUCATING CITIZENS. BUILDING COMMUNITIES.

Transcription

1 EDUCATING CITIZENS. BUILDING COMMUNITIES. 1

2 Welcome! On behalf of Rhode Island Campus Compact, I am excited to showcase the ways in which we support the innovative work of our member campuses and to highlight how these projects and programs are helping to shape the field of higher education. We invite you to read stories of RICC partners: faculty members, students, AmeriCorps members and administrators, who recognize the public purpose of higher education and seek to create positive change in our community. Rhode Island Campus Compact strengthens the collective commitment and capacity of colleges and universities to advance civic and community engagement in order to fulfill the public purpose of higher education. Relationship building is at the forefront of our work. Throughout these pages, you will see the themes of community engagement, civic leadership, partnership and collaboration. The examples featured here form a snapshot of a much larger network of campuses and organizations seeking to leverage their resources to address pressing community needs. As a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, Campus Compact promotes public and community service that develops students as citizens and forges effective community partnerships. Campus Compact challenges member campuses to think critically on their role of educating citizens and improving the quality of community life, and offers resources for members seeking to integrate these themes of civic and community engagement within their work. We hope that the stories featured here reflect the ways in which our programs are educating citizens and building communities, and that you come away inspired to join us in this vision. In partnership, Carie Hertzberg, Ed.D. Executive Director Rhode Island Campus Compact

3 RICC Membership: Brown University Community College of Rhode Island Johnson & Wales University Bryant University New England Institute of Technology Providence College University of Rhode Island Salve Regina University Roger Williams University Rhode Island College Rhode Island School of Design What is RICC doing? Strengthening Campus- Community Partnerships Building PK-20 Partnerships Cultivating Engaged Scholarship Promoting Active Citizenship Building the Engaged Campus Convening Cross-Sector Collaboration Building a Culture of Civic Engagement Creating Shared Space Rhode Island Campus Compact awarded over $500,000 in Segal Education Awards to more than 500 college students engaged in service between Photo: University of La Verne Partnerships for Success directly supported 34 PK-20 school-based partnerships in the past 5 years. Through the Rhode Island Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program ( ), 116 RICC AmeriCorps*VISTAs served over 250,000 hours to build the capacity of RI community partnerships that impact low-income communities and individuals. 3

4 Rhode Island Campus Compact supports campus programs that create positive change through deep, reciprocal campuscommunity partnerships. This support includes resources for long-term capacity building in order to address an identified community need. The goal of the EXPLORE! program at Providence College is to work with students early in their high school careers to explore post-secondary options and to begin goal setting for the future. The initiative was originally sparked by Stephanie Nunes, a former Pawtucket student who wanted to see more students of color like her at PC. The weekly curriculum, facilitated by Providence College service-learners, enables Providence high school students to develop an understanding of themselves, their interests, aspirations, talents, and ideas for the future with a postsecondary mindset. Three RICC AmeriCorps*VISTAs, Stephanie Nunes, Kaytee Stewart, and Margot Hanson, were instrumental in building and cultivating EXPLORE!. Their collective efforts ensured the program s sustainability beyond a three year VISTA project with a successful transition to a student leadership model. EXPLORE! just celebrated its fifth year of empowering Providence College and Providence high school students in attaining their education goals. Photo: Providence College PC students impacted ( ): 223 Providence HS students impacted ( ): 199 STRENGTHENING CAMPUS- COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Making sure college is accessible and attainable. Encouraging meaningful and positive experiences when students actually get to campus. Rhode Island Campus Compact breaks down the barriers between the community and the university. RICC AmeriCorps*VISTA Alumna 5

5 Leveraging the educational assets of the state s institutions of higher education, Rhode Island Campus Compact builds school-university partnerships that prepare students to realize their own goals in higher education, careers and active citizenship. Dr. Jameson Chace established a hydroponic garden at a school in Middletown, RI and a corresponding service-learning component for Environmental Studies majors at Salve Regina University. Building on an existing hydroponic research garden at Salve, Dr. Chace leveraged the RICC Faculty Fellows program and Partnerships for Success initiative to develop a community STEM program with a long-term aim of environmental sustainability. Dr. Chace explains, undergraduates gain tremendous education, confidence, and experience when working with community members. Community engagement makes learning aspects for my students real. While cultivating relationships with PK-12 partners, Dr. Chace grew the leadership capacities of his undergraduate researchers and rooted his research in the local community. Photo: Salve Regina University Outcomes include: Engaged scholarship by undergraduate students Enhanced excitement and learning around STEM from the middle school students Stronger relationships between the school, community, and university A room at partner school with five different hydroponic systems sprouting leafy greens BUILDING PK-20 PARTNERSHIPS It is our hope that our institutions of higher education will continue to partner in strengthening the PK-20 system in our state. The future of our institutions, our state, and its citizens depends on such collaboration. College President 7

6 Rhode Island Campus Compact believes that faculty are core to the civic mission of higher education. Hundreds of faculty have utilized the RICC network to realize the potential of combining their expertise, research, and teaching to help solve the most critical issues in society. Dr. Mary Baker conducts research in Costa Rica on capuchin monkeys with a focus on medicinal plant use by the monkeys and conservation efforts. Recently, Dr. Baker s work took on new aims: to work with public schools, higher education and the international community to address the issue of conservation and sustainability. Her motivation: I need to share the results of my research with the people whose tax dollars fund my work and those whose country has hosted me. Partnering with the MET High School, Rhode Island College faculty member and RICC Faculty Fellow Dr. Baker developed a research project designed by Providence high school students and carried out by RIC undergraduates in Costa Rica. I need to be part of the solution to foster better preparation for and interest in science education. Dr. Baker used a cell phone, social media, and Skype to connect with the participating high school students, bringing active research on conservation and primate behavior to an RI classroom. My research became relevant to them in ways my publications never will. CULTIVATING ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP Higher education has much to contribute to our communities, the ability to tap skills and knowledge of faculty, staff and students, and the potential to mobilize human capital. Community Partner 9

7 Since its founding in 1985, Campus Compact has operated with a vision to foster college students as active citizens. Rhode Island Campus Compact continues to build on this mission through multiple student engagement programs and initiatives. Photo: Feinstein Community Service Center, Johnson & Wales University RICC s AmeriCorps Scholarships for Service (SFS) program enabled Wilson Tiu, a graduate of Central High School in Providence and a member of the College Crusade college access program, to continue his commitment to give back to his community. As a student at Johnson & Wales University, Wilson served as one of the hundreds of AmeriCorps SFS members who created substantial impact in RI communities while gaining practical skills to thrive as engaged citizens. Wilson elected to serve at the Fox Point Boys & Girls Club, completing 300 hours of service working with youth in Providence during his sophomore year of college. He shined as he used his patience and humor to keep things positive when the younger students had trouble with their work. Wilson s college education has been substantially enhanced by his service to Providence youth. BUILDING A CULTURE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Student engagement is one of the most vibrant components of this work. We must never forget that they are oftentimes the change-makers. They are active participants and must be engaged as equals. RICC AmeriCorps*VISTA Alumna 11

8 Rhode Island Campus Compact works closely with its members to build engaged campuses. This includes supporting campus communities in collaborating across departments and disciplines to embed engagement in the fabric of higher education. Roger Williams University has worked over several years to develop a sophisticated and integrated understanding of its community engagement through the creation of a new division: University Outreach & Engagement. Through this integrated division, RWU prioritizes civic and community engagement as key to achieving the institution s mission. Photo: Roger Williams University Building the engaged campus requires intentional support of the facets of community engagement: service-learning, project-based learning, community-based research, advocacy, experiential education, and internships. At Roger Williams, these fall into the following departments while remaining under one roof: Career Center Business Engagement Center Community Partnerships Center Feinstein Center for Pro Bono and Experiential Education Feinstein Center for Service Learning & Community Engagement Employer Outreach Engagement Housing Works RI Latino Policy Institute BUILDING THE ENGAGED CAMPUS The rewards are realized in the real-world experience, networking and relationships developed by our students within the communities they serve being a member of RICC serves to expand our capacity to leverage outreach and engagement. College Administrator 13

9 Rhode Island Campus Compact supports cross-sector collaboration through strategic convenings, learningcentered workshops, an active civic engagement network, and resource publications. RICC s Partnerships for Success Partnership Rubric comprises one such publication that truly exemplifies cross-sector collaboration. The Rubric outlines standards of partnership practice as well as three phases of partnership, emerging to developing to transformative. This tool functions as a set of standards, a road map to reciprocal partnerships, and a self-assessment tool. Crafted through the collaboration of an array of education leaders, the authors include: a Pawtucket Head of School; a Director of Community Service at a private university; a Service-Learning Coordinator at a public college; the CEO & President of the largest youth-serving nonprofit in RI; a RICC AmeriCorps*VISTA; and leaders representing higher education. These collaborators contributed expertise and eight months of time to create a best practice tool that engages practitioners and supports the variety of partnership contexts in RI. Photo: Shannon Fogel Adapted for use in: Annual Retreat of the Feinstein Institute for Public Service at Providence College Providence Public School Department Grant Proposal Service Learning Curriculum Development PK-20 Partnership Development for Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs) Undergraduate Student Orientation to Community-based Work CONVENING CROSS- SECTOR COLLABORATION RICC provides higher education a unique opportunity to come together as a sector and as a partner to address key community issues. Community Partner 15

10 Rhode Island Campus Compact supports campuses in creating cultures of engagement that encourage students, faculty, staff, and administrators to become civically engaged and active citizens beyond campus gates. Suzy Alba models what it means to be civically and actively engaged in a community, be it locally, institutionally, or on a state level. As a Scholarships for Service Student Civic Fellow and student body president at Rhode Island College, Suzy recognized the impact of colleges and universities on RI communities. This led her to serve as a RICC AmeriCorps*VISTA at Roger Williams University. As a RICC VISTA, Suzy further leveraged the impact of higher education in the state by founding a campus-based AmeriCorps program and deepening community partnerships. The AmeriCorps pledge to take action when faced with apathy, to seek common ground when faced with conflict, and to persevere when faced with adversity continues to guide Suzy in her work. Today as a Smithfield Town Councilwoman and the Director of Alumni Affairs and College Relations at Rhode Island College, Suzy catalyzes her experiences to build a culture of civic engagement as a public servant, a community volunteer, and an administrator in higher education. PROMOTING ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP I was empowered by the responsibilities I was given as a RICC AmeriCorps*VISTA. This empowerment has carried me forward in all of the work that I do as a civically engaged and community-minded citizen. Suzy Alba 17

11 Rhode Island Campus Compact believes that higher education is one of the most important pathways to build communities, promote citizenship, and solve critical social issues for a healthy, just democracy. Member institutions make use of their resources everyday to strengthen relationships with their local communities and to address common concerns. The Providence College/Smith Hill Annex came to fruition through 20 years of partnership building between PC and the Smith Hill community. Located half a mile from the PC campus, the Annex is a sparsely furnished, 1,000-square foot storefront space. More than a physical space though, the Annex represents a collaborative effort of the college, the PC Feinstein Institute for Public Service, RICC AmeriCorps*VISTA members, and the Smith Hill community. The deceptively simple purpose of the Annex is to foster conversation between members of the Providence College campus and the Smith Hill community with the desire of increased mutual understanding and opportunities for collaboration. Photo: Providence College Since the opening of the common space, there has been a shift from us/them to the language of neighbors, of we. This change represents a larger shift: a shift from the college viewing the community as a place that needs help to a partner that is deeply appreciated. CREATING SHARED SPACE The issue lies in that both communities [campus and neighborhood] tend to exist as though separate, when in fact they rely on each other. RICC AmeriCorps*VISTA Alumna 19

12 KEY PROGRAMS: AmeriCorps*VISTA The RICC AmeriCorps*VISTA program is a full-time, 12-month national service program. RICC AmeriCorps*VISTAs address the pressing issues facing low-income communities throughout the state with placements at institutions of higher education, core urban schools, and education-focused community organizations. VISTA members build the capacity for underrepresented populations to access post-secondary opportunities. Presidential Engaged Scholars Faculty Fellowship The RICC Presidential Faculty Fellowship is an annual competitive award program for college faculty at RICC member campuses who are committed to developing and enhancing community and civic engagement through their teaching, research, and service. Faculty Fellows meet several times throughout the year to share resources, enhance their projects, and increase RI s network of engaged scholars. RI Civic Engagement Network RICC s Civic Engagement Network regularly convenes and provides resources to civic engagement professionals at RICC member campuses. Through this network, member campuses collaborate on projects, share resources, gain new knowledge, and enhance the collective impact of community engagement efforts in RI. RI Partnerships for Success Partnerships for Success (PFS) is a PK-16 education initiative led by Rhode Island Campus Compact and an Advisory Council of PK-16 representatives. PFS seeks to build and strengthen strategic partnerships between Rhode Island s PK-12 schools and institutions of higher education in order to raise levels of academic achievement, ensure college and work readiness, and expand civic engagement opportunities for all students in Rhode Island. RI Statewide Student Service Summit An annual opportunity for college students, the RICC Student Service Summit aims to strengthen the skills and awareness of RI s undergraduate student service leaders by providing them with personal and professional development opportunities that deepen their service and education experience. Additionally, students have the opportunity to network across member campuses which often results in cross-campus collaborative efforts that are supported through RICC Raise Your Voice grants. 21

13 Feinstein Academic Center, Room Cunningham Square Providence, RI ricompact.org