REPORT TO GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF PLANNING & BUDGETING Fisca l Ye a r 2015- 2016
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For information, please contact Executive Director, DeeDee Rasmussen
850.488.7782
ddr@floridacompact.org
MEMBER CAMPUSES Adventist University of Health Sciences Barry University Bethune-Cookman University Broward College College of Central Florida Daytona State College Eastern Florida State College Eckerd College Edward Waters College Everglades University Flagler College Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Florida Atlantic University Florida Gateway College Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Institute of Technology Florida International University Florida Southern College Florida State College at Jacksonville Florida State University Gulf Coast State College Hillsborough Community College Hodges University Indian River State College Jacksonville University Johnson University, Florida Lake-Sumter State College Lynn University Miami Dade College New College of Florida North Florida Community College Nova Southeastern University Palm Beach Atlantic University Palm Beach State College Pasco-Hernando State College Pensacola State College Polk State College Ringling College of Art and Design Rollins College Saint Leo University Saint Thomas University Santa Fe College Seminole State College of Florida South Florida State College St. Petersburg College Stetson University Tallahassee Community College University of Central Florida University of Florida University of Miami University of North Florida University of South Florida The University of Tampa University of West Florida Valencia College Warner University
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE William Abare, Ed.D. President, Flagler College Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, Ph.D. President, Barry University Wilson G. Bradshaw, Ph.D. President, Florida Gulf Coast University Anthony James Catanese, Ph.D., FAICP Co-Chair, Florida Campus Compact President, Florida Institute of Technology John Delaney, J.D. President, University of North Florida Eileen Holden, Ed.D. President, Polk State College Edwin Massey, Ph.D. President, Indian River State College Mark Rosenberg, Ph.D. President, Florida International University Steven J. Uhlfelder, J.D. Co-Chair, Florida Campus Compact
BACKGROUND Florida Campus Compact is a coalition of over 50 college and university presidents, and their institutions.Collectively, we seek to prepare college graduates with skills employers need (workforce development) through high-impact pedagogies that improve teaching, learning & student retention while building stronger communities through campus-community collaboration. The FY 2015-16 appropriation to Florida Campus Compact in the amount of $225,000 was dedicated to the purpose of expanding our capacity to facilitate Community Engaged Scholarship among Florida’s colleges and universities.
EVENTS, MEETINGS AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT ENGAGEMENT INSTITUTES FL|CC held two Engagement Institutes in February, 2016; Level Up, held February 3-5 and and Data Story held February 7-10. Level Up was an Engagement Institute intended to help institutions broaden and deepen existing engagement efforts while developing an action plan to establish new ones. Level Up featured Gail Robinson as institute faculty. Robinson is the former director of Service-Learning for the American Association of Community Colleges. She directed national data collection, evaluation, and research for Community Engagement work in higher education, and edited a best-selling book, A Practical Guide for Integrating Civic Responsibility into the Curriculum, and designed the companion online video training modules. She serves on the national advisory panel for the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, and served on the boards for the National Society for Experiential Education and the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement. Fifty-one individuals representing eight institutions attended Level Up, including faculty and engagement staff and administrators with decision-making authority for academic and cocurricular engagement.
Level Up
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The following institutions were represented at Level Up:
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Flagler College Palm Beach Atlantic University Palm Beach State College Pensacola State College Pasco-Hernando State College St. Petersburg College University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee Valencia College
The second Institute, Data Story: Power Stories for Powerful Outcomes demonstrated how to collect and analyze engagement data useful to stakeholders and how to craft a compelling story from that data for multiple audiences. Data Story featured several guest experts, notably Dr. Valerie Holton from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Dr. Kyle Peck from Penn State. Forty-two attendees from twelve institutions explored ways to craft a story arc that employs both Quantitative and Qualitative engagement data and which is compelling to a variety of audiences. Dr. Holton is an expert in Community-Engaged Research and demonstrated the ways in which VCU has created digital tools that serve the institution and the community simultaneously.
Data Story
The following institutions participated in Data Story:
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Adventist University of Health Sciences Florida A&M University Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University The Florida State University
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Miami Dade College New College Palm Beach State College Stetson University University of Central Florida University of South Florida
CAMPUS COMPACT 30TH ANNIVERSARY NATIONAL CONFERENCE AND PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT March 20-23, 2016 Over 700 higher education professionals gathered in Boston, MA to celebrate thirty years of Campus Compact, take stock of the higher education engagement movement, and identify ways to effectively advance the goals of the Compact. The week began with a Summit of Presidents and Chancellors held at the Edward M Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. Representing Florida at this event were President John Delany (University of North Florida), President Grant Cornwell (Rollins College), Steve Uhlfelder (Co-Chair of Florida Campus Compact), and DeeDee Rasmussen (Florida Campus Compact Executive Director). Ms. Rasmussen introduced one of the keynote speakers, Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of Miami Dade County Public Schools. Representing Florida at the three day professional development conference were twenty engagement professionals representing both academic and student affairs from nine Florida colleges and universities; and three members of the Florida Campus Compact staff. Four persons from Florida presented workshop sessions during the conference. The conference was an investment in building the movement for the public purposes of higher education – to educate students to graduate with civic and career-ready skills, and a determination to improve the quality of community life.
REGIONAL MEETINGS
SOUTH FLORIDA: The South Florida Regional Meeting was held Friday, February 26, 2016, at Miami Dade College (North Campus). Twenty-three people representing the following member institutions participated in the meeting:
• Miami Dade College • Florida Atlantic University • Florida International University • Barry University • Palm Beach State College • Nova Southeastern University • Palm Beach Atlantic University • Indian River State College • University of Miami • St. Thomas University The primary agenda item for the meeting was a continued discussion on the implementation of the group’s strategic plan that centers around the collective impact of South Florida institutions of higher education working on issues of college readiness and completion. 3
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: The Southwest Florida Regional Meeting was held Friday, February 26, 2016 at Florida Gulf Coast University. Ten people representing the following member institutions participated in the meeting:
• Florida Gulf Coast University • University of South Florida – Sarasota/Manatee • New College of Florida • Ringling College of Art and Design • Eckerd College The primary agenda item for the meeting was a presentation by Dr. Robin Bachin from the University of Miami on trends and best practices for faculty and staff in working with community partners to achieve student learning outcomes through community engagement practices.
AMERICORPS/ VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA COST SHARE Florida Campus Compact hosts an AmeriCorps VISTA program, which is federally funded through a grant from the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS). A portion of our state appropriation is used as a cost-share to support VISTA members placed with colleges, universities, and community-based organizations, in order to recruit and train college students to serve in their communities. FL|CC AmeriCorps VISTA members are successfully building bridges between the classrooms and communities by connecting educators, students, and community partners to improve education and strengthen communities through campus-community partnerships. AmeriCorps VISTA members provide an additional human resource and capacity that is invaluable in seeking to expand the scholarship of engagement while strengthening communities in Florida.
RECENT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS AND PLANS
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The FL|CC VISTA Program welcomed eight new VISTA members in February 2016; each will serve full-time for one year at Florida State College at Jacksonville, St. Thomas University, Tallahassee Community College, the University of Miami, and the University of Florida as well as at community-based non-profits Chain Reaction and Community Tampa Bay. We are also working to release an updated project host application for new host sites to join our program for the 2016-2017 grant year. We anticipate opening the host site application process in early spring 2016. We have also confirmed Stetson University as the host institution for our annual summer VISTA In-Service Training that will take place in July. This training will bring all the FL|CC VISTA members together for three days of learning, networking, team building and service projects. Lastly, we will welcome a new VISTA Leader to the program in late March to focus on recruitment, retention and professional development for VISTA members as well as building capacity for the overall FL|CC VISTA Program.
Current FL|CC VISTA Host Sites
VISTA STORIES
This year marked Florida International University’s (FIU) 25th Martin Luther King Jr. Day of service. To commemorate this special anniversary FIU hosted 25 service sites across South Florida. Typically, at past MLK Jr. Day of Service events, 300 to 500 volunteers engaged in a one-day project aimed at restoring and beautifying a targeted area in Miami-Dade County. This year, as a result of the efforts of FL|CC VISTA members Brian Mannas and Josh Farmer, FIU had 609 volunteers show up to serve! Service sites included high schools, parks, and several non-profit organizations. Volunteers served 1,917 hours for a total monetary contribution estimated at $15,432 (FL minimum wage at $8.05/hr).
FIU participants serving for the 25th MLK Day of Service.
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Pensacola State College began the construction of their first campus-wide food pantry, the Pirate Provide Pantry. In part, through financial support from a Campus Compact MLK Jr. Day of Service Mini-Grant, Pensacola State College was able to secure a space on their main campus, purchase shelving and incidentals, and begin a food donation drive. To date, they have well over 200 lbs of food available, consisting of more than 100 items. Donations continue to come in from all over the community. FL|CC VISTA member Jessica Johnson said, “Because the Pensacola area, and specifically the PSC student population, are directly affected by food insecurity, we decided to focus on relieving the stress of food insecurity from our students, and open the pantry. Our college also serves a large military/veteran and low-income community.” The pantry’s grand opening was at the end of February. FL|CC VISTA member Jessica Johnson helped to conduct a two week food drive that began in early January. She also helped to host several service days to facilitate the organization of the pantry. These service days included sorting seasonal clothing, toiletry items, and installing shelving. So far the pantry has been a huge success and there are hopes to expand it to four additional campuses.
AmeriCorps/ VISTAs By The Numbers
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*Data from 10/1/2015 through12/30/2015
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION 2016 NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOWS On March 31, Campus Compact announced the 218 students chosen to receive the 2016 Newman Civic Fellows Award. This award honors the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders and a tireless advocate for the civic engagement of higher education. “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate such an extraordinary group of students,” said Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. “We are seeing a resurgence in student interest in acting to create lasting social change, and this year’s Newman Civic Fellows exemplify that commitment.” In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors were encouraged to nominate undergraduate or graduate students who are proven leaders with both the motivation and ability to make substantial contributions toward public problem solving for this special recognition. Those chosen to receive this honor will have also taken action in pursuit of longterm positive social change. Of the 218 2016 Newman Civic Fellows, 19 are from Florida Campus Compact member campuses. They are:
Robert Down, Adventist University of Health Sciences Christian Mesa, Barry University Julia Weatherspoon, Eastern Florida State College Demetrius Smith, Edward Waters College Willie Williams, Florida A&M University Christy Folk, Florida Atlantic University Lauren Morimanno, Florida Gulf Coast University Corin Lobo, Florida Institute of Technology Stephon Green-Monroe, Florida State College at Jacksonville Maydee Martinez, Miami Dade College Lizabelt Avila, New College of Florida Isabelle Runge, Palm Beach Atlantic University Pablo Campos, Pensacola State College Arden Baxter, Rollins College Rosmery Nerey Rodriguez, Seminole State College of Florida Taylor Duguay, Stetson University Misha Smith, Tallahassee Community VCollege Andy Garcia, University of Florida Alexis Musick, University of Miami
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COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FL|CC has assisted with the expansion of SaveFirst and FocusFirst, two new AmeriCorps programs, into North Florida. Students from FSU participated in both of these programs.
SAVEFIRST
SaveFirst is a High-Quality Tax Preparation Initiative that trains college, graduate, and law students to provide free tax preparation services and opportunities for savings to lowincome, working families—especially targeting those eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Through SaveFirst, student volunteers have served 375 North Florida families and individuals, saving them over $75,000 in commercial preparation fees and ensuring that all families served receive the full EITC and other tax credits to which they are entitled.
SAVEFIRST
FOCUSFIRST
FocusFirst is a High-Tech Vision Care Initiative that provides free vision screenings to preschool-age children (ages six months to five years) in Head Starts and lower-income daycares using high-tech photo optic scan cameras. This quarter, student volunteers have screened over 50 children in North Florida, bringing the total number of Florida children screened to 2,230. Of this number, 205 (9.2%) failed their screening and have been referred to receive follow-up care through Sight Savers America, ensuring that each child screened is able to begin their education with the best vision medically possible.
FOCUSFIRST
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