Beyond Service and Service Learning: The Next BIG Steps for Community Engagement in Higher Education
Compact Initiatives | 4
By: Megan Lenzzo, AmeriCorps VISTA Member Coordinator Monday, May 19, 2014
With over 90 colleagues from 7 states in attendance, Community Service and Service Learning leaders from across the region met to discuss critical changes in the community engagement and higher education field. The event honored Campus Compact’s 2013 Ehrlich Award Winner, Dr. Richard Battistoni: Professor and Director of Feinstein Institute for Public Service at Providence College, RI. This event was organized by: CT, NH, and RI Campus Compacts. Hosted by: UCONN-Storrs, Office of Community Outreach and Office of Public Engagement. Dr. Richard Battistoni, CC Ehrlich Award Winner
Part 1: Community Service Learning Practitioner Summit Executive Director of Rhode Island Campus Compact, Carie Hertzberg opened up the summit by highlighting the changes and trends in higher education, leading into the overarching question: Where is the field of community and civic engagement headed and how can we shape its direction? The presentation turned into a discussion, using the World Cafe method. Key insights include: Engagement can no longer just be captured in civic engagement centers (The concept of the engaged campus is growing and has the ability to integrate in every department on campus) Focus on outcomes measurement, economic impact: a need for evidence that engagement supports success and connectedness through data Attention to college access, success, attainment to ensure that students from less fortunate backgrounds receive the needed resources to succeed Partnerships deepen connectivity between college campuses and communities, allowing for mutually beneficial enhancement towards engaged citizenry State funding is changing – institutions must adapt accordingly and make presence known in communities to receive additional financial support
Part 2: Keynote Speaker and Response Panel Keynote speaker, Dr. Battistoni continued the topic of the next big steps for community engagement in higher education. He challenged the audience to re-define the common terms: service, engagement, and partnership while also defining the struggles higher education professionals face, including: The Problem of Time: Most higher education “interventions” are one-course, one-semester The Problem of [Democratic] Values: Most programs are “thin” in their conceptual notions of civic engagement and democracy The Problem of Accountability: Inadequate attention to what graduates should think & be prepared to do concerning civic action/identity The event closed with an engaging response panel. Panelists shared comments towards Dr. Battistoni’s presentation. Panelists include: Moderator: Carol Polifroni, Director, Office of Public Engagement at the University of Connecticut Dr. Richard Battistoni, 2013 Ehlrich Award Winner Don Tuski, President, at Maine College of Art Dr. Valerie Smith, Dean, Bunker Hill Community College
CTCC’S 1ST ANNUAL STUDENT CONFERENCE Friday, November 14th University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus