Using Knowledge to Serve Humanity: Civic Engagement at UCI Kristen Day Professor, Dept. of Planning, Policy, & Design Darlene Esparza Director, Center for Service in Action

Civic and community engagement on campus Universities increasingly focused on their civic mission - Kellogg Commission -Carnegie Commission Growing sense of responsibility -Inside & outside higher ed

Civic and community engagement on campus Universities increasingly focused on their civic mission - Kellogg Commission -Carnegie Commission Growing sense of responsibility -Inside & outside higher ed

More involved in addressing societal problems More intentional in creating future citizens who are well informed; concerned about local, global issues; & committed to political participation Mandate for universities

Special responsibilities of research universities Top higher ed institutions in US Must deeply engage w/our communities –In research –In outreach & service –In teaching & learning

“At UCI, community engagement involves the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources between the university and the public and private sectors to: –enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity –enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning –prepare educated, engaged, and responsible citizens, and –benefit the community at the local, regional, state, national, and global levels.” (UCI Civic Engagement Committee, 2008)

UCI = deep involvement in engagement Over 50 outreach, engagement programs UCI faculty, staff, students engaged with –Pre K–12 –Health services –Non-profit organizations Focus on service learning is expanding

UCI Successes in Civic Engagement Community Outreach Partnership Center Mission & Goals –Successful community building begins with investing in people and their dreams, developing bonds of trust, and nurturing leadership. –SUPPORT –REINFORCE –EMPOWER

UCI Successes in Civic Engagement Humanities Out There –Est –Reaches over 500 intermediate and high school students and their teachers each year through its workshops on humanities topics. –Collaborative between School of Humanities and Santa Ana Unified School District, with support for Center for Educational Partnerships

UCI Successes in Civic Engagement Creative Connections –Claire Trevor School of the Arts –Dynamic arts outreach program Partner with local schools and arts organizations to share our talents and knowledge with students of all ages, from Kindergarten to adults in their senior years. Creative Connections introduces children to the arts, prepares students for college, and provides adults with active, experiential immersion in the arts.

UCI Successes in Civic Engagement Global Connect –School of Social Sciences - Designed to enrich California's secondary school curriculum in international studies

UCI Successes in Civic Engagement UCI Alternative Break Program –Est –Winter/spring –Leadership seminar ““We saw skeletons of trees and empty spaces where houses used to be,” Chiu says. “It was an eye-opening experience. When you actually see it, you feel the sense of loss. The land was so beautiful, but it hurt to see how devastated it was. It made us realize why we were there.” –Lori Chiu, Alternative Break Intern

UCI Successes in Civic Engagement School of Engineering –Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department –Partnered with Free Wheelchair Mission to create a new wheelchair prototype.

Proposed UCI minor in civic engagement Campuswide civic engagement committee –25 members –Students, faculty, staff Goals –Develop proposal for new minor in civic engagement –Identify strategies to support civic engagement at UCI

UCI Committee on Civic Engagement Zahra Ahmed, Graduate Student, Dept. of Political Science, School of Social Sciences Stanley Bassin, Community Engagement Unit, Institute of Clinical Translation Science Victor Becerra, Community Outreach Partnership Center, School of Social Ecology Jeanett Castellanos, Undergraduate Resource Center, School of Social Sciences Lori Chiu, Undergraduate student, Dept. of Political Science, School of Social Sciences William Cooper, Water Research Center, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and School of Social Ecology Kristen Day, Dept. of Planning, Policy, and Design, School of Social Ecology Darlene Esparza, Center for Service in Action, Office of the Dean of Students Jose Gonzalez-Vasquez, Undergraduate student, Dept. of Political Science, School of Social Sciences Ana Halland, Outreach Programs, Claire Trevor School of the Arts Gillian Hayes, Dept. of Infomatics, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Science Molly Lynch, Dept. of Dance, Claire Trevor School of the Arts Sue Marshall, Undergraduate Programs, Department of Education Grace McLaughlin, Dept. of Organization and Management, Paul Merage School of Business Michael Montoya, Depts. of Anthropology and Chicano/Latino Studies, School of Social Sciences Luis Mota-Bravo, Bio Sci Outreach & Minority Science Program Amanda Napier, Undergraduate student, School of Biological Sciences Carrie Noland, Dept. of French and Italian, School of Humanities James Nowick, Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences Ellen Olshansky, Program in Nursing Sciences, College of Health Sciences Chris Procello, Division of Undergraduate Education Stephanie Reyes-Tuccio, Center for Educational Partnerships Oracio Sanchez, Undergraduate student, Spanish, School of Humanities Said Shokair, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Zohreh Soltani, Division of Undergraduate Education Rameen Talesh, Dean of Students Office Liz Toomey, Community & State Government Relations Linda Vo, Dept. of Asian American Studies, School of Humanities Bill Zeller, Student Housing, Student Affairs

Proposed minor in civic engagement Goals: –Accommodate students in all majors on campus –Connect service to learning –Expand learning into community –Tie majors to understanding of social, environmental problems –Learn about research in community context

Proposal for minor in civic engagement at UCI

How you can get involved Always have your community engagement project be born off campus. Solicit student opinions –Focus groups Reflect on personal and group strengths.

How you can get involved Community Outreach Partnership Center Center for Service in Action Center for Educational Partnerships Career Center Internship Hub Social Science Academic Resource Center Center for International Education Division of Undergraduate Education Office of the Dean of Students Campus Organizations

How you can get involved How does Civic Engagement relate to your mission or goals? What are you already doing? What units or departments could you collaborate with?