The Communiversity Project:Sunnyvale Case Study

D. Arnold, T. Converso, D. Miles, L. Doerner

University of

Louisville

Summary of Case

• Town & Gown relationship is suffering as Sunnyvale has grown into the city proper – students are causing community unrest

• Committee is made up of Dean of Students – Chair, Director of Residence Life and Student Activities, Marketing Director of Athletics, Director of Civic Engagement/Service, Marketing and Communications Specialist, (2) influential faculty members, Deputy Mayor, (2) local Sunnyvale community supporters, a local community agency representative, and someone from Sunnyvale Public Schools, (5) key and influential students

Sunnyvale Initiatives

Dean of StudentsAthletics

Student ActivitiesSunnyvale in the Schools

Dean of Students

• Conduct Approach– Align university and community discipline for students– Taskforce assembled– Students will sign a Code of Conduct upon

matriculation• Connect university safety and security with

community– Informational sessions– Review of policies and procedures– Safety and security hotline for community members

Sunnyvale Athletics

• Promotional Nights– Kids get in free– $1 Hot Dogs

• Summer sports camps for youth leagues• Game watch parties at local establishments

hosted by Sunnyvale Alumni Association

Sunnyvale in the Schools

• Office of Community Service will conduct initiatives for a comprehensive “Sunnyvale in the Schools” program– Program will provide university students as tutors for after

school programs– Program will host Communiversity Days

• Held quarterly, Communiversity Days will provide interaction of Sunnyvale students with residents and children of the community

• Some examples: tours of Sunnyvale will be given to grade school children, carnival like activities either within the school or on campus, discounts at local restaurants, etc

Sunnyvale Student Activities

• Recognizing a need for evening programming, Sunnyvale will do a full assessment of current student activities programming– Students will provide feedback on types of events

Sunnyvale activities they would attend– Funds will be reallocated to provide Late Night

programming – initiatives to keep students on campus

Partnership between Sunnyvale and the Community

Building a Relationship

Sunnyvale Make A Difference Day

• Held during the Fall semester• Each residence hall floor with get 10-15 residents to

be on a team• Teams will also be made of student organizations

and groups of individual students that would like to participate

• The teams will meet at the Student Union on the morning of the event and be transported by bus to different locations though the local community to carry out various service projects

Sunnyvale Make A Difference Day

• Student will also receive t-shits with the “Sunnyvale Make a Difference Day” logo so they can be seen in the community and be recognized at Sunnyvale student. These shirts will also serve as promotion thought the academic year to advertise next year’s event

• Sunnyvale University will provide lunches and lunch time will provide a space a time for the students and community members to share a meal and create relationships that will last much beyond this one day of service

Sunnyvale Facilities

• Relief Efforts: – In the wake of recent natural disasters Sunnyvale will

offer it’s facilities to relief efforts (collection areas for donations, emergency shelters, staging areas for volunteers, etc.)

• Rental:– Large meeting facilities and ballrooms on Sunnyvale’s

campus will be offered for rental by community members and organizations for a discounted rate compared to those outside the community

Sunnyvale Facilities

• Training:– Sunnyvale will offer free training to all faculty and staff as well

as community members about the precautions that need to be taken when minors are on campus. These trainings will allow for community children to be in university facilities with a lessor risk to the university and community image.

• Summer @ Sunnyvale:– During the summer months Residence Life facilities will be

able to be booked by community organizations that would like to host conferences or large groups. The Residence Life venues will be offered at a discounted rate compared to other chain hotels.

Social Media and Sunnyvale

TwitterFacebook

NewslettersTrainings

Twitter

• @SunnyAthletics– Information on

community projects• Day(s) of service

– Local Business Day promotions

– Student programs• Art exhibits• Fundraisers

– Twitter Forums• “Ask a

professor/administrator/student”

Facebook

• Photos of events• Calendar of upcoming events• Links to other university pages– Sunnyvale Athletics– Student Government

E – Newsletter

• Town wide distribution– Local businesses– Residences– Student residence halls

• Coupons for students – Specials at local businesses

• Discount events for community– Free movies in university quad– Discount apparel at university bookstore

Social Media Training

• Community Workshops– How to set up Twitter and Facebook– Social media basics– Using social media as a direct source of

information• Student Workshops– Proper social media etiquette– Protocol for sharing upcoming student activities

Deputy Mayor

• Student discount program in the community– Example: Show your ID, get 10 percent off

• School pride program– Example: Window displays in local business

“Welcome Sunnyvale Students!”– Example: Sporting event sponsorships and discounts

• University Newsletter– Share Sunnyvale University newsletter to

community partners

Town & Gown Commission

• Board of community and university leaders– University President and Office representatives– University Provost and representatives– City Mayor and Office representatives– Local business owners and leaders

• Created to improve communication and collaboration among university and community– Create awareness of the neighborhoods, the students,

the local government– Develop strategic solutions for issues of common concern

The Communiversity Project: Conclusion

• Immediate solution– Commence committee, role out of several initiatives that are made an immediate

priority• Late Night Programming• Social Media outlets• Town & Gown Commission

• Long Term Solution– Community engagement in Sunnyvale activities– Strong partnerships between university and public schools– Revisiting the University mission to ensure it aligns with building productive

citizenship• Our multifaceted approach brings together several key stakeholders for a

holistic solution focused approach• Students will become more engaged at the University and within the

community through various mediums, community will benefit from several university initiatives

Thank you StudentAffairs.com!

D. Arnold, T. Converso, D. Miles, L. Doerner

University of

Louisville