Center for Civic Engagement
Annual Report 2008-2009
The Center for Civic Engagement offers WSU students, faculty, campus departments, and community partners opportunities to share knowledge, skills, and resources for the benefit of student learning and the well-being of our communities.
"…it also showed me how easy it was to make a difference in the life of someone else."
Student Learning
- 3,630 students registered with the CCE
- Students across 86 majors participate
in CCE activities - 84 academic service learning classes provide
students with civic engagement experiences
connected to curriculum
Learning Outcomes
- Academic and career development: In a recent
survey 73% of student respondents agreed
that their community engagement experience
helped them to identify and apply academic
concepts in real life settings - Civic knowledge and responsibility: 80% of
student respondents agreed that their community
engagement experience caused them to realize the
importance of active citizenship - Self awareness and efficacy: 78% of student
respondents indicated that as a result of their
community engagement experience they gained
respect for the life situations of others
Community Impact
- The CCE has active partnerships with 353
community partners in Pullman, the Palouse,
and statewide through our collaboration with
WSU Extension - 167 community partners were connected to
academic service learning courses - 107 community partners worked with WSU
students on co-curricular projects - 110 new community partnerships were developed
- 32,070 recorded hours of service by WSU students
In a Recent Survey...
- 83% of community partners responding agreed
that WSU students contributed to enhanced
programs and services within the community - 81% agreed that WSU students contributed to
increased one-on-one contact with cleints and
children within their agency
"I loved having a WSU CCE student serving at our facility! She was enthusiastic to learn and serve and was very proactive in regard to concerns we address."
School Partnerships
- 104 WSU students served as tutors to youth in the
Pullman community and in rural Whitman County
communities - They tutored over 1,500 hours and more
than 250 youth
Co-Curricular Community Service Projects
- 424 projects were offered; an average of 10 projects
per week - Project participation was 1,855, with many students
participating more than once
Select Project Impacts in 2008-09:
- Recycled 6,380 pounds of used clothing and
household items - Prepared, served, and shared a meal with 57
homeless individuals - Provided companionship, games, and manicures to
524 senior citizens - Mentored and tutored 629 children and youth
- Assisted with the completion of one Habitat for
Humanity home and started ground preparation
for a second home
Statewide Service Learning
The Statewide Service Learning Program extends the range of service learning and civic engagement opportunities for WSU students in terms of both geographic location and types of engagement experiences. Working through the network of WSU County Extension offices and other community partners around the state and beyond, Pullman-based and Distance Degree Program students engaged in diverse face-to-face and at-a-distance service projects that enhance community well-being in myriad ways.
Statewide efforts accomplished the following:
- 61 student and classroom projects
- 10 service learning internships
- 42 communities were served through the statewide
program throughout 23 counties
Recognition
Each year the Center for Civic Engagement recognizes
one student, one faculty member, and one community
partner who display a commitment to learning through
campus-community engagement. For the 2008–09
academic year we recognized:
- Student: Kyle McKeeman—Health and Fitness major
- Faculty/Instructor: Sarah Whitley, instructor in the
Sociology Department - Community Partner: Dave Port, director of
Harvest House - Statewide Community Partner: Snohomish
County Extension
12th Annual Campus on the Run sponsored the Pullman
Montessori School garden project with a $1,200 award.
The Corporation for National and Community Service
honored Washington State University and the Center for
Civic Engagement with a place on the 2008 President’s
Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for
exemplary service efforts and service to America’s
communities. Honorees are chosen based on
- scope and innovation of service projects,
- percentage of student participation in
service activities, - incentives for service,
- and the extent to which the school offers academic
service-learning courses.
The Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement.
Carnegie Classification: In December 2008, WSU was
named among 119 university and college recipients
nationwide of the 2008 “Community Engagement
Classification” from The Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching. The selection recognizes
higher education institutions that demonstrate
excellence in “alignment between mission, culture,
leadership, resources, and practices that support
dynamic and noteworthy community engagement.”
WSU was selected for the honor in the dual categories of
curricular engagement and outreach and partnerships.