Eastern Michigan University
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Community Service-VISION Office
Presidential Statement on Civic Engagement - Samuel Kirtkpatrick, former President of Eastern Michigan University
Community engagement at Eastern Michigan University has a real and dynamic impact on the culture, policies and programs of the University. The broad foundation for service and public engagement has its genesis in our mission statement, which declares in part: "We extend our commitment beyond the campus boundaries to the wider community through service initiatives and partnerships of mutual interest addressing local, regional, national and international opportunities and challenges." This foundation is further defined as one of the University's six strategic directions: Eastern Michigan University will become a model for public engagement and linkages with the local community, the Detroit metropolitan area, southeast Michigan, the State of Michigan and the region to address mutual concerns.
The Community as Partner
Eastern Michigan University's success and strength depends, in large part, on the success and strength of the region we serve. We view the campus as part of, not separate from, the local community and strive to create programs, activities and services that foster community participation and enhance the quality of life culturally, socially and economically.
Through the development of four joint city-university task forces, EMU and the City of Ypsilanti have achieved real, and measurable, gains in the areas of: cost containment, the investment of capital in community revitalization, arts and entertainment, communication and economic enhancements.
This strategic approach is implemented on a wider scale through the UniversityÀs Institute for Community and Regional Development (ICARD), which carries out public service on behalf of EMU through five areas of outreach:
· Economic and workforce development
· Geographic information systems
· Groundwater resources and education
· Management information systems
· Public service education
ICARD represents EMU on various committees, provides in-depth training programs, and involves faculty and students in problem-solving projects in the community.
The work of the city-university task forces and ICARD is designed to:
· Formally assess the needs of the community
· Engage the community in helping to plan the programs needed
· Provide for active two-way communication between EMU and the community
In addition to ICARD, the University conducts public service activities through a variety of other centers and institutes, including the Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Communities; the Centers for Corporate Training; the Small Business Development Center; and the Office of Collaborative Education. EMU's commitment to public engagement is further exemplified by its formal partnership with community agencies and the Department of Housing and Urban Development through the University-based Community Outreach Partnership Center.
Faculty and Staff as Partners
Faculty and staff play an integral role in the advancement of the UniversityÀs service and engagement initiatives. EMU has a national reputation for its innovative Academic Service-Learning program. ASL employs community service as a means of helping students gain a deeper understanding of course objectives, acquire new knowledge and engage in civic activity. Through our Faculty Center for Instructional Effectiveness, faculty are trained in ASL teaching methodology and assisted in pursuing service-learning grants for course development. EMUÀs ASL Center also regularly engages K-12 personnel in identifying ways to incorporate service-learning in their curriculum.
As a metropolitan university, EMU recognizes the importance of preparing students for careers within community-based youth and human service agencies and has formally integrated the American Humanics program into the undergraduate curriculum. Students graduating with American Humanics certification will have acquired core competencies identified as critical for the continued success of community non-profits.
As citizens of the community, EMU faculty and staff participate as board members and volunteers for hundreds of non-profit agencies. Community service is formally recognized as part of the UniversityÀs evaluation process.
Students as Partners
Eastern Michigan University is committed to holistic student development. In addition to providing outstanding academic discipline-based learning, we are committed to providing: opportunities for socially responsible activities, a supportive and stimulating learning environment, and programs that educate students to become more productive citizens.
Thousands of student-volunteer hours are coordinated annually through the UniversityÀs Volunteers Incorporating Service Into Our Neighborhoods (VISION) office. As part of VISION, students actively address social issues and meet community needs through a wide range of programs and activities including: Alternative Spring Break, America Reads, Best Buddies, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and Students Against Hunger and Homelessness.
Through our unique and award-winning 2% Solution program, students may donate one meal per week from their dining contract to help feed the hungry. The actual cost of the missed meal is donated to local service providers. Excess prepared food is also donated to the Food Gatherers Association and distributed throughout the region.
National Partners
As a public, comprehensive, metropolitan university serving a culturally and environmentally diverse region characterized by growth and economic transformation, EMU is committed to establishing and maintaining vibrant, mutually beneficial partnerships with those we serve.
We are committed to pursuing best practices in public engagement and learning from our peers. EMU is proud to serve as the new institutional home of the Coalition of Metropolitan and Urban Universities and we believe that through the collective work of the association, we will more fully meet our institutional mission and produce graduates who make a positive difference in their workplaces and their communities.