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A Promising Connection . Increasing College Access and Success through Civic Engagement. Session Overview. About Iowa Campus Compact What is Civic Engagement? Why Civic Engagement? Research – Connection with College Completion Community College Models What you can do and how we can help.
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A Promising Connection Increasing College Access and Success through Civic Engagement
Session Overview • About Iowa Campus Compact • What is Civic Engagement? • Why Civic Engagement? • Research – Connection with College Completion • Community College Models • What you can do and how we can help
About Us www.iacampuscompact.org
About Us • Member Benefits • Resources • Successful models • Funding • Visibility • Faculty opportunities • Recognition • Professional development • Technical assistance • Advocacy and policy • National movement
What is civic engagement? . • Service-learning • Communityengagement • Community-based research • Civic education • Community experiences • Community-based learning • Democratic practice • Philanthropy education • Other co-curricular offerings for students
What is civic engagement? . • Individual vs. Organizational • Individual - create civically minded persons, use knowledge and skills for community betterment • Organizational- create infrastructure that link campuses and communities through reciprocalpartnerships
What is service-learning? Service and learning goals of equal weight and each enhances the other for all participants (Sigmon, 1994)
Why Civic Engagement? The system of community colleges grew out of a commitment to the democratic principles of access and opportunity; its leaders were philosophically dedicated to the belief that broad engagement of the diverse community will create a strong educational, social, political, and economic fabric. (Cohen & Brawer, 2003)
Research A Promising Connection Report
Research • Eyler, Giles, Stenson, and Gray (2001) found a range of benefits for students (page 11): • academic learning and ability to apply what they have learned in the “real world” • improves student satisfaction with college, more likely to graduate • sense of personal efficacy, personal identity, interpersonal development, ability to work well with others • spiritual and moral development • leadership and communication skills • reducing stereotypes and facilitating cultural and racial understanding • social responsibility and citizenship skills.
Research • 2010 Job Outlook Survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers candidate’s involvement in volunteer work key factor in making hiring decisions
Research • High-quality curricular and co-curricular civic engagement is positively correlated with student success in K-12 schools, community colleges, and public and private four-year colleges and universities (Grantmakers for Education, 2010; Meyer, 2003). • Peer group interaction key for college student success, service is one way to develop peer relationships (Astin, 1996) • Service-learning is positively associated with student retention and the likelihood of completing a degree (Astinand Sax, 1998) (page 6)
Research • Gallini and Moely (2003) (page 6) • effects of service-learning on student retention, academic challenge, academic engagement, interpersonal engagement, and community engagement • surveyed students about engagement, academic challenge, and persistence • students in service-learning courses scored significantly higher on all measures
Research • Campus Compact offices of Northern New England study • 770 students at 17 institutions • student survey on how service-learning course affected them on five measures: retention, academic challenge, academic engagement, interpersonal engagement, and community engagement
Research • AACC, Prentice and Robinson (2010) study (page 9) • More than 2,000 students • Statisticallysignificant differences between service-learners and non–service-learners on five out of six learning outcomes • educational success and academic development, civic responsibility, critical thinking, communication, and career and teamwork.
Community College Models • DahiwakudProject (developed by the Community College National Center for Community Engagement, CCNCCE) • Collaboration with four-year and two-year institution • Joint energy efficiency project for low-income families • Improved attitude and interest in learning and community service • Faculty reported expanded knowledge and skill set (page 10)
Community College Models • Accent on Student Success: Engaged Together for Service (ASSETS) • Intergenerational service projects • 1,500 students surveyed • 9 in 10 improved attitudes toward learning and community service • 90% of minority students surveyed more likely to complete degree
Community College Models • Kapiolani Community College (handout) • Faculty-driven and integrated • Service-learning outcomes aligned with institution learning outcomes • 2009 and 2010 fall-spring persistence rates 25% higher for service-learning students • Service-learning students also performed better in developmental courses • Offer “Pathways” by issue/field area, continuum of opportunities through courses, work study, internships, student leader positions
Community College Models • Iowa Western Community College • Majority of service is academic-based service learning, however there are also multiple service opportunities throughout the year to encourage students to continue to be civically engaged • Sampling of graduates indicated that service-learning enhanced understanding of course content, attributed to career opportunities as well as networking and resume building, and many continue to serve after they graduate. • IWCC notes Service-Learning on student transcripts • Bring together community members, students, faculty and staff to volunteer for a common goal • IWCC hosts annual recognition for service which includes community partners, students, faculty and staff. • Hosted professional development with leaders in the field such as Patty Clayton, Dr. Robert Franco etc. Also offer opportunities for faculty to attend/present at service-focused national conferences • Service-focused student clubs to promote leadership – Colleges Against Cancer chapter through American Cancer Society • Host annual community-wide and campus-wide service events - Community Relay For Life and Pink Out
Community College Models • Iowa Western Community College • Received 5 subgrants through Learn and Serve America totaling more than $60,000 • Most recent: 2011 STEM grant project at Lakin Campus • Multi-program project (culinary, construction, ag/hort, sustainability and AmeriCorps) • Multi-agency project (CB Boys & Girls Club, Micah House shelter, Heartland Family Services and Extreme 180 Youth Summer Fitness Camp) • Utilize AmeriCorps program for student leadership opportunities • Americorps State (Iowa Campus Compact) - 300 hours (6 students) • AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates – 10 weeks, full-time (6 students) • Partner with neighboring higher education institutions in Omaha for large-scale community projects • Metro Area Coalition for Service-Learning (UNO, Creighton, UNMC, CSM, Methodist, Clarkson, Grace, IWCC and MCC) – implement projects and professional development around annual themes such as Veterans, Refugees, etc. • Project Homeless Connect Omaha – one day event to provide medical and social services to community residents struggling with homelessness - Serves 600+ in metro area
Community College Models • Iowa Western Community College • Benefits from Campus Compact membership • Professional development opportunities • AmeriCorps programs • Networking and collaboration with other Iowa higher education institutions • Foster strong partnership with Iowa Commission in Volunteer Service • Resource sharing – member networks/best practices • Opportunities for student leadership – IUGO conference and other summits • Grant opportunities – federal and private • Award opportunities for faculty and students • IWCC student recently named a Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow (one of only four in the state of Iowa)
What Institutions Can Do • Connect with institutional mission and vision statements • Integrate civic engagement at all academic and co-curricular levels • Integrate into the faculty promotion and reward structure • Provide professional development opportunities for faculty • Provide infrastructure support for community-campus relationships
What Leaders Can Do • Get key leaders talking • Encourage faculty • Connect local groups • Utilize development office • Track and evaluate • Reflect institutional commitment • Share evaluation and data
How IACC Can Help • Professional development (training, workshops, webinars, etc.) • Funding opportunities • Student engagement programs • Faculty programming • Networking and collaboration • Information on research and models • Dissemination and recognition
Questions? Discussion?Information and resources at:www.iacampuscompact.org