“Spending time with this family made me realize that more of my daily activities should include volunteering for those that need it.”

-Jodi Champion, AASU student and service-learning project participant

 

The purpose of this university-wide project is to unite intellectual inquiry with public service by encouraging Armstrong faculty, students and staff to form meaningful connections with the local community. Faculty and staff will introduce students to the importance of public service as a way to become socially responsible citizens, and students will learn the significance of meaningful activity that is aimed at the improvement of local society and the global community, particularly in the areas of child and adult education, environmental sustainability, gender and racial equality, health care, hunger and poverty reduction and justice.

 

Recognizing that civic engagement is occurring in classrooms and programs throughout the university, the Initiative for Civic Engagement will assist in coordinating such efforts and will introduce new projects to the university community. To accomplish these goals, the initiative will:

                 

·       Support courses that focus on domestic and global issues, especially as they foster an awareness of civic responsibility in the student body

·       Encourage curricular development that emphasizes concepts of civic engagement and promotes the creation of service-learning classes

·       Establish strong ties, or strengthen existing ones, between the university and community programs

·       Promote student volunteerism and, in conjunction with community agencies, coordinate our efforts with the Division of Students Affairs

·       Provide educational resources and training to faculty and local educators through programs such as the American Democracy Project, developed by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in conjunction with The New York Times

Armstrong Atlantic students, staff and faculty will have opportunities to participate in forums and workshops that promote civic engagement.

September 17

Constitution and Citizenship Day:

“State Universities as the ‘Democracy Colleges’ for the 21st Century”

Harry Boyte, Center for Democracy and Citizenship

University of Minnesota

Armstrong Center Auditorium 5-6 p.m.

Refreshments to follow

September 23

First Year Experience Faculty Panel on When the Emperor Was Divine

University Hall 156 noon-1 p.m.

September 24

Student Volunteer Fair

Science Center Breezeway noon-2 p.m.

September 25

Distribution of the Call for Proposals for Internal Teaching and Learning Grants

October 2

Internal Grants Workshop

Hawes Hall 115 noon-1 p.m.