A presentation given by Iowa Campus Compact Executive Director Emily Shields to the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees in July 2012 on the community colleges and the connection between civic engagement and service-learning and college access and success.

1. A PROMISING
CONNECTION
Increasing College
Access and Success
through Civic Engagement

2. • 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
Session Overview

3. www.iacampuscompact.org
About Us

4. Member Benefits
• Resources
• Successful models
• Funding
• Visibility
• Faculty opportunities
• Recognition
• Professional development
• Technical assistance
• Advocacy and policy
• National movement
About Us

5. .
What is civic engagement?
• Service-learning
• Community engagement
• Community-based research
• Civic education
• Community experiences
• Community-based learning
• Democratic practice
• Philanthropy education
• Other co-curricular offerings for students

6. .
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 reciprocal
partnerships

7. Service and learning goals of equal weight and each
enhances the other for all participants (Sigmon, 1994)
What is service-learning?

8. 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)
Why Civic Engagement?

9. A Promising Connection
Report
Research

10. • 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

11. • 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

12. • 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 (Astin and Sax,
1998)
(page 6)
Research

13. • 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

14. • 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

16. • AACC, Prentice and Robinson (2010) study (page 9)
• More than 2,000 students
• Statistically significant 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.
Research

17. • Dahiwakud Project (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

18. • 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

19. • 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

20. • 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

21. • 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

22. • 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)
Community College Models

23. 1. Connect with institutional mission and vision statements
2. Integrate civic engagement at all academic and co-
curricular levels
3. Integrate into the faculty promotion and reward structure
4. Provide professional development opportunities for
faculty
5. Provide infrastructure support for community-campus
relationships
What Institutions Can Do

24. 1. Get key leaders talking
2. Encourage faculty
3. Connect local groups
4. Utilize development office
5. Track and evaluate
6. Reflect institutional commitment
7. Share evaluation and data
What Leaders Can Do

25. 1. Professional development (training, workshops, webinars,
etc.)
2. Funding opportunities
3. Student engagement programs
4. Faculty programming
5. Networking and collaboration
6. Information on research and models
7. Dissemination and recognition
How IACC Can Help

26. Questions? Discussion?
Information and resources at:
www.iacampuscompact.org