Center for Community Engagement & Service-Learning

Mission Statement: The Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning stands for learning through service that produces students who are civically engaged and graduates who are active, global citizens.

Vision Statement: A sustained, engaged relationship with the community through the Geneva Partnership that promotes positive community change and enhanced student learning.

Community Service “To end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-saving aid to the world's most vulnerable and by creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources.”

60,000 meals were packed by First-year students over Orientation. Backpacks for Geneva’s “Back to School Program” were packed and Community Gardens were tilled.

Service-Learning: Definition • SL is a pedagogy that faculty use to incorporate service

into their courses. Students benefit through experiential learning and reflection and the community benefits through the students' service.

• SL is a credit-bearing educational experience in which students (a) participate in an organized service activity that meets

identified community needs, and (b) reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further

understanding of curricular content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of personal values and civic responsibility" (Bringle and Hatcher, 1996).

Student Reported Benefits

1. Develop real world experience & skills

2. Critical thinking skills3. Communication4. Teamwork5. Civic responsibility6. Problem solving7. Public speaking8. Computer skills9. Research skills10. Analytical skills

10 Top Skills Employers Seek

1. Written & Verbal Communication skills

2. Interpersonal Skills3. Motivation/Initiative4. Strong work ethic5. Teamwork skills6. Analytical skills7. Flexibility/Adaptability8. Computer skills9. Leadership skills10. Organizational Skills

SERVICE-LEARNING BENEFITS STUDENTS…

Service-Learning: A High Impact Practice

Service-Learning: Reported Outcomes

• The most frequently reported value of service-learning was the opportunity to interact in meaningful ways with people from diverse backgrounds. Service-learning creates opportunities for social integration (promotes retention).

• Studies indicate graduates who’ve volunteered or taken SL classes have positive gains with regard to civic leadership, charitable giving (including with alma mater), and overall political engagement.

Service-Learning @ HWS

• Annually 400-500 students are enrolled in approximately 20-25 Service-Learning classes

• 35 active community partnerships• Examples:– FY Seminar – Consuming Our World – Intro. To Sociology– Economics of Caring– Life Cycles in History– Public Policy

Community Based Research @ HWS

• Undergraduate Research = High Impact Practice

• Annually Celebrated at Community Engaged Research Forum

• Often a continuation frfrom a seed planted in a SL class

Social Justice Studies ProgramInterdisciplinary look into social, cultural, and

institutional responses to inequality and oppression.

~Social Justice Minor~Civic Engagement and Social Justice Minor

Example – Explore social justice by delving into topics such as distributive justice, egalitarianism, libertarianism, resource and welfare-based approaches, feminist and capabilities approaches, and desert approaches. Then, enroll in ECON 213 Urban Economics to take a look at the basic problems of urban areas today

National Discussion- Value of Higher Education and Impact on Communities

Economic Impact of HWS on Geneva: $83.3 million. An impact that would not have existed if the Colleges were not located in the city of Geneva.

Civic Impact of student + Employee Time: The total community service contribution of students and employees or the Colleges to the Geneva area is estimated to be 190,419 community service hours = $4, 180,000

How else do we know SL is effective?

• Alums come back and tell us…

• 5 Semesters with Teagle Foundation Funded Scorecard

• CBR projects are archived on City of Geneva’s website

Questions?

• According to the 2010 census, the City of Geneva had a population of 13,261.

• The population of Geneva comprises approx. 12% of Ontario County.

• The federal poverty level for a family of 4 is $23,550.

• The median income in Geneva is $45,190 which is $12,00 below the county average

Some demographics of Geneva…

Global workshop with 2nd graders – where are you from? “Whales!”

Finger Lakes Medical Associates – Geneva 2020 books @ 1st Well Child Visit

Inaugural Job Shadowing

Program

Ninth-grade students from Geneva High School had the opportunity to learn about careers from community members who are engaged in Geneva 2020. This

was 'collective impact' in action, students finished the job shadowing experiences knowing more about prospective careers, and equally important,

that their success in school is important to all of us.

Geneva 2020 is included on NY State Cradle to Career Website

http://www.suny.edu/cradletocareer/