Sunnyvale University Community Engagement Proposal

Closing the gap between town & gown

Arkansas Tech University: Morgan Combs, Justine Tozer, Hope Russell, Tyler Perkins

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Welcome!

Agenda

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Goals Overlying Issue Solutions

Today we are going to propose multiple solutions, based off of research and student development theories, that combined will strengthen the bond between our university and town communities.

▫ Office of Community Engagement ▫ Relocation of Graduate School ▫ Community Center ▫ Social Media

Justification/Research Timeline Summary

Higher Education is currently viewed as,

“A private benefit, not a public good.”

- Dr. Ernest Boyer

Goals Committee

• • • • Become a cohesive unit that together work to better our communities Cultivate student learning and produce citizens of world Reduce amount of heavy student traffic in town’s center Increase communication between the community and campus • • • • • • • Dean of Students Director of Residence Life Director of Student Activities Deputy Mayor Dean of Graduate College Student Government Student Graduate Student

Back to our roots when…

“the university was engaged in civic advancement, and the city was engaged in intellectual advancement,

and the two were joined.”

- Dr. Ernest Boyer

A Nation in Need of Collaboration

• As a nation, higher education is no longer viewed as a public good; students are focusing on their intellectual education, graduating, and obtaining a job. We need to educate our students to become global citizens who actively participate in the betterment of their communities, not just train them for a specific career.

▫ This starts here and now with our community. If we as a university are not connected to our surrounding community, how can we expect students to do any differently when they leave here?

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We need to lead by example.

Boyer, E. (1996). The scholarship of engagement. Journal of Public Service and Outreach, 1(1), 11-20.

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Step: Create an Office of Community Engagement

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In order to mend and enhance the relationship between our university and the community we need to recognize that this is not a quick fix. Like any relationship, it require continuous and evolving care.

▫ This office will serve as the university’s primary source for repairing the bond with the community. A full-time Director, along with a graduate assistant will lead this initiative, beginning with the following suggestions & programs.

Office of Community Engagement

• • • CELP - Community Engagement Leadership Program ▫ Students become leaders largely through civic engagement ▫ Each student is paired with a mentor from the community ▫ Attending a town hall meeting is a requirement Student Organization (Sunnyvale Serves) ▫ Executive board & student volunteers /members ▫ Staff Advisor ▫ Volunteer community advisor from mayor’s office ▫ Organize & implement service days & drives, among other community centered initiatives Community Activities/Events ▫ Sunnyvale Saturday ▫ Sustainable Sunnyvale ▫ SU4Youth

Continuing Activities

• Sustainable Sunnyvale ▫ Community and campus wide recycling initiative lead by Sunnyvale Student Organizations (primarily by Sunnyvalle Serves) and head of town recycling committee. Leaders will work together to incorporate both university and community recycling centers in the program. Students and community leaders will lead a collaborative effort to educate the university and community on best waste-reduction practices. The group will focus on education through visits to local schools and student organizations, as well as establishing a presence at campus and community events. • SU4Youth ▫ Sunnyvale University for Youth will be a mentor program for local students K-12. The program will utilize SU staff, faculty, and students as mentors for local students. Some of the services and opportunity provided by SU4Youth will be:  Free tutoring for students K-12 provided by Sunnyvale University students  College essay and application assistance provided by SU students for high school juniors and seniors  The Sunnyvale Community Scholarship ▫ One local student awarded a full scholarship to SU for partaking in the program

Sunnyvale Saturday (Annual Event)

• • Family Fun Run ▫ 3K family friendly walk/run begins at in the center of downtown $10 to register. All proceeds benefit proposed community center (you’ll hear about this soon!) ▫ Ends at the center of town with a lunch provided by the university Sunnyvale Carnival ▫ Games and attractions provided by university groups as part of their programming initiatives ▫ Students in CELP, the leadership program, must participate in the carnival as part of course curriculum ▫ Admission is a donation of any amount ▫ All games, attractions, and food free ▫ Donations will benefit the community center renovations and/or upkeep

Sunnyvale Saturday, cont.

• Sunnyvale Soiree ▫ Gala held at the end of Sunnyvale Saturday for local business owners, community leaders, university administration and student leaders   $50/person dinner *  Office of Community Engagement will assist students in fundraising efforts to afford tickets Student organizations or community groups may sponsor a table for $200  On-site child care provided *  Silent auction *Partner with Early Childhood Development and Hospitality Management faculty to offer incentive (i.e. internship hours) to their advanced students to work the event.

Communication Efforts

• Twitter: Utilize hash tags such as #SUserves to promote and organize event updates. People can follow the tag to keep up-t0-date and connected.

• Facebook: Create a Facebook page for the Office of Community Engagement to allow people to “like” the page and gain access information about what we are up to.

• YouTube: Actively demonstrate progress that is being made in the community through highlight videos. • Instagram: Share photos that help others follow progress of and see SU engaging in the community. Will also utilize hash tags like Twitter.

• School Newspaper & Town Newspaper (Print and Online): Create working relationship between both entities to share postings and/or articles of important news and events going on in the community and campus.

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Step: Graduate School Relocation

Build a new graduate school on the Sunnyvale Campus for use by Fall 2013 semester

• • Mission: Keep our graduate students linked to the campus and decrease heavy traffic in town center. Once the new graduate school is completed we will begin renovation on the current downtown facilities immediately. • Propose to create a community center to be used and operated by our students as well as community members. • Include wellness facilities and programs Open for use by Fall 2014 semester.

Goals:

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Improve collaboration of all university community engagement programs.

Strengthen relationship between university and community.

Strengthen networks of universities committed to serving their local communities.

(Netter center)

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Step: Build a Community Center: Sunnyvale Wellness & Activity Center

#SWAC

Wellness Center Amenities

• • • • • • Fitness Center Weight Room Gymnasium Lap pool Aerobic Rooms Locker Rooms

Programs Available

• • • • • • Tutoring Center ( Available for Students K-12)* Music Lessons/Auditorium * Lecture Hall Meeting Rooms Daycare Center* Restaurant/ Banquet Space * Operated by qualified Sunnyvale University students (i.e. early childhood development, hospitality management, and music majors) with assistance/supervision from faculty & staff

Proposed SWAC Layout & Pricing

• • • Community Membership Cost: Day pass: $5.00, Monthly pass: $30.00, Yearly $340.00 Family Membership costs will also be incorporated Sunnyvale University Student Cost: Free with Student ID; Included in semester student fees Image obtained from http://www.fulopassociates.com/Commcenter.html

Justification

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Involvement in the community will help students develop moral thought process. This is shown through Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

  Individualistic, Instrumental Morality where students follow rules if it is in their interest to do so. Right is defined by what they view as fair.

Aim to develop students to Social System Morality where they try to maintain social order and consider society as a whole when making judgments. They maintain law and order by following the rules, doing their part, and respecting authority.

Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido-DiBrito, F., Patton, L. & Renn, K. (2010). Student development in

college: Theory, research, and practice, (2 nd

Edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Justification

• • Astin’s Involvement Theory shows that s and learning.

tudents who actively participate in campus activities can create a positive impact on their own development For student growth to take place, students need to actively engage in their environment:  Academic involvement, Faculty involvement, involvement with peers, involvement at work, and

community involvement

▫ The Office of Community Engagement will provide students with opportunities to get involved beyond the classroom.

▫ A community center will provide further opportunities for university and community members to interact and build positive relationships. Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido-DiBrito, F., Patton, L. & Renn, K. (2010). Student development in

college: Theory, research, and practice, (2 nd

Edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Justification

• Chickering’s Theory of Identity Development provides seven developmental tasks that students complete in the formation of their identity. Students will: ▫ Develop intellectual, physical, & interpersonal competence  Through real-life work experiences within the community center, community service projects, and the CELP community mentorships ▫ Learn to manage emotions  By working through conflicts in team settings ▫ Develop mature interpersonal relationships  Through working with other students, staff, and community members ▫ Developing integrity:  Learn to balance the interests of others with the interest of themselves & balance personal values with socially responsible behavior Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido-DiBrito, F., Patton, L. & Renn, K. (2010). Student development in

college: Theory, research, and practice, (2 nd

Edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Justification

Why so much social media?

• If we want to reach students, we need to go to where they are. They’re online, so we will be too.

▫ 51% of American teens log on to a social network site more than once a day ▫ 22% percent log on more than 10 times a day (Listfield)

Move Graduate Building to Campus

• Often times graduate students are neglected; services are primarily geared towards undergraduates. Studies show that these students still benefit from involvement and a sense of community on campus ▫ Moving their building to campus is a first step to encouraging them to connect ▫ This could also help reduce the amount of student traffic in the center of town (Kern-Bowen & Gardner)

Timeline – what and when

• • • • Sunnyvale Serves Student Organization – Before end of semester ▫ Director of Student Activities will serve as the temporary advisor until the Office of Community Engagement is up and running ▫ This committee will recruit student leaders for the organization  Student Government Association members have already volunteered to assist in the formation of the group Office of Community Engagement – May 1, 2013 ▫ Need time to hire a full-time professional and set up the office   Will temporarily be housed within the Student Services Office ▫ Community Engagement Leadership Program will be developed over the summer by the new professional Implemented during Fall 2013 New Graduate School – Fall 2013 ▫ Dean of the Graduate School, VP of Finance, and Dean of Students will head this proposal: high priority, need quick turn around SWAC Building – Fall 2014 ▫ Must wait for the Graduate School to move to their new location and finish renovations

Summary

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The proposed services and activities will assist students in their personal development and becoming more connected to their communities By engaging in the community our students will show the town they positively contribute to the area, and foster positive relationships between the two Moving the graduate college will not only assist in reducing the amount of traffic in the center of town, but connecting our graduate students to the university as well Connecting with students and the community via social media will promote the bond between our communities, spread the word about what we are up to, and encourage people to join

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References

Boyer, E. (1996). The scholarship of engagement. Journal of Public Service and Outreach, 1(1), 11-20.

Boyer, E. (1994). Creating the new american college. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/Creating-the-New-American/93483/ Bringle, R. G., & Hatcher, J.A. (1996). Implementing Service Learning in Higher Education. Journal of Higher Education, 67(2), 221-239. Retrieved from http://fyc.niu.edu/engagedlearning/service/docs/bringle_hatcher1996.pdf

College of William & Mary. (2013). Community Engagement. Retrieved from https://www.wm.edu/offices/oce/index.php

Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido-DiBrito, F., Patton, L. & Renn, K. (2010). Student development in college: Theory,

research, and practice, (2 nd

Edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Furze, J., Black, L., Peck, K., & Jensen, G. M. (2011). Student perceptions of a community engagement experience: Exploration of reflections on social responsibility and professional formation. Physiotherapy Theory & Practice, 27(6), 411 421. Kern-Bowen, J., & Gardner, R. (2010) Creating Campus Community for Graduate Students Through Programs, Services, and Facilities. The Bulletin, 78 (2) . Retrieved from http://www.acui.org/publications/bulletin/article.aspx?issue=22641&id=12132 Listfield, E. (2011, October 7). Generation Wired. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from Parade: http://www.parade.com/health/2011/10/generation-wired.html

Lockwood, D., Lockwood, J., Krajewski-Jaime, E. R., & Wiencek, P. (2011). University and Community Partnerships: A Model of Social Work Practice.International Journal Of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 6(1), 39-46.

Netter Center. (n.d.). Our Mission. Retrieved from https://www.nettercenter.upenn.edu/about-us/our-mission Rollins College. (2012). Community Engagement. Retrieved from http://www.rollins.edu/communityengagement/ University of Arkansas. (n.d.). Center for Community Engagement. Retrieved from http://service.uark.edu/ University of Louisville. (2013). Office of Community Engagement. Retrieved from http://louisville.edu/communityengagement University of Minnesota Morris. (n.d.). Office of Community Engagement. Retried from http://www.morris.umn.edu/communityengagement/assessment/ Virginia Commonwealth University. (2012). Division of Community Engagement Retrieved from http://www.community.vcu.edu/about/