HISTORY & BACKGROUND As an eight-campus educational system, Kent State University offers a broad array of academic programs to engage students in diverse learning environments, and educate students to think critically while attaining the knowledge and skills necessary for responsible citizenship, and productive careers. Kent State is the second-largest university in Ohio with an enrollment of 41,365 students in the 8-campus system and 26,589 students at the main campus in Kent.

Kent State University has seven regional campuses located around northeastern Ohio including: Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas. Kent State University’s main campus is the largest branch located in Portage County. Even though Portage County is in the midst of Northeastern Ohio’s urban centers, Portage County has a poverty rate of 14.3% (Census Bureau, 2009). Although the poverty needs are great in all KSU communities it should be noted that half of Kent State’s campuses are considered to be located in Appalachia, Ohio. This includes KSU branches located in the following counties: Ashtabula, Columbiana, Trumbull and Tuscarawas (The Appalachian Regional Commission, 2010). This makes it clear that all Kent State University communities are in great needs.

Within the KSU mission statement; it states its goal to “engage in the world beyond our campuses.” In April 2009, Kent State University opened The Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement (OEECE) to support the KSU mission and engage KSU students and faculty in addressing the needs of all KSU communities. In the past two years, Kent State University has set the groundwork for experiential learning and has shown to be an institution devoted to community service and civic engagement.

 

Engaging campuses in service to the community

Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report: Kent State University

 

 

Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA strategically connects college resources with communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.  

Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement (Ohio Benefit Bank, Homelessness & Hunger issues, and Youth), and Bridges Out of Poverty. For more information contact: VISTA Corps member: Nichelle Shuck 740-225-3272 • nshuck@kent.edu Site Supervisor: Dr. Tina L. Kandakai (330)-672-8723 • tkandaka@kent.edu Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director: Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lesha.farias@gmail.com

www.ohiocampuscompact.org  

“Without our Ohio Campus Compact VISTA this project would not be happening. Nichelle has helped me make contacts with the community, provided research, presented in my class and also helped with making campus connections to bring this project to fruition. Without her motivation, desire and excitement, the amount of work that is needed for this service-learning project would have been too overwhelming for me to do alone.” – Nikki Caswell, English Faculty

     “Nichelle  Shuck,  has  been  extremely  effective  in  connecting  the  Empower  Portage  program  with  campus  resources  to  promote,  expand,  and  sustain  our  non-­‐profit  program”  - Lauren Szymanski Family & Community Services Inc. AmeriCorps VISTA serving Empower Portage

The VISTA Impact by the numbers:

2010-­‐2011  Experiential  Learning  Opportunities  

Experiential  Learning  Courses:  

55

Engaged Students/Learners: 2,394

Engaged Faculty 47

Total Hours Engaged: 35,115

Community Partners: 58

Estimated Economic Impact: $750,056.40

**  One  hour  =  $21.36  (Independent  Sector,  2010)  

About Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit coalition of colleges and university presidents and their campuses working to promote the civic purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus Compact provides resources, services & partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their ability to educate students for civic and social responsibility and to improve community life. AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years. The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps* VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who create and expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs serve in the poorest areas of their communities to tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student services, public health and college access. More information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org

COMMUNITY IMPACT To support Kent State University leadership in experiential learning, the Ohio Campus Compact VISTA, Nichelle Shuck, worked with several service-learning classes that addressed specific poverty alleviation efforts such as: Financial Literacy/Ohio Benefit Bank, Hunger & Homelessness, Youth Outreach, Non-Profit capacity building, and CIRCLES Initiatives. Through the support of dedicated faculty members, students received real-world experiences that professionally prepared them to become active citizens in the world beyond Kent State University. These courses challenge students to learn about issues of poverty and provide service through direct community service, community/campus-based research, program development, and promotional materials.

CAMPUS IMPACT Kent State University has partnered with Ohio Campus Compact (OCC) to address community needs by hosting ten OCC AmeriCorps* VISTA since 1998. In 2006, OCC VISTAs have been serving KSU to create a culture of service on campus and in the community through experiential learning and civic engagement opportunities. Five OCC VISTAs have worked to build capacity for the new Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement (OEECE) which supports faculty and students to leverage campus resources into the community through experiential education. “OCC VISTAs have had an enormous impact on KSU’s being able to move

forward its experiential learning agenda. They have helped to develop positive working relationships with community partners and spark interest

with students and faculty. These relationships will provide outstanding avenues for KSU students to work with and give back to the surrounding

communities. The experiential learning opportunities will have a substantial impact as KSU’s eight campuses interact throughout Northeastern Ohio and

beyond. “- Dr. Stephane Booth, Associate Provost for Quality Initiatives and Curriculum

In Fall of 2012, Kent State University will implement an Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) that will require all Kent State students to complete an experiential learning experience during their academic tenure at KSU. Through the support of Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTAs the infrastructure of the Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement (OEECE) has been developed and will continue to meet the needs of the students, faculty, and community.

KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: OPPORTUNITIES FOR

THE FUTURE Given the development of the ELR and the tough economic times it is clear the experiential learning and civic engagement will be a great leverage of campus resources that will help fight poverty in Kent State communities. The most crucial component of this initiative is strong relationships with campus and community partners. It is imperative that these relationships are fully developed to ensure complete success for students, faculty, and community partners. It is important for the OEECE to orient community partners with the breadth and depth of experiential learning and encourage deliberate interactions between students, faculty and specific community partners. With the development of the ELR, both students and faculty will be searching for these opportunities and it is important to invest time in developing strong community partnerships and civic engagement opportunities that will benefit all parties involved.