Sunnyvale University Community
Engagement Proposal
Closing the gap between town & gown
Arkansas Tech University:
Morgan Combs, Justine Tozer,
Hope Russell, Tyler Perkins
Welcome!
Agenda
• Goals
• Overlying Issue
• Solutions
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Today we are going to propose
multiple solutions, based off of
research and student development
theories, that combined will
strengthen the bond between our
university and town communities.
Office of Community Engagement
Relocation of Graduate School
Community Center
Social Media
• Justification/Research
• Timeline
• Summary
Higher Education is currently viewed as,
“A private benefit, not a public good.”
- Dr. Ernest Boyer
Goals
Committee
• Become a cohesive unit that
together work to better our
communities
• Cultivate student learning and
produce citizens of world
• Reduce amount of heavy
student traffic in town’s center
• Increase communication
between the community and
campus
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Dean of Students
Director of Residence Life
Director of Student Activities
Deputy Mayor
Dean of Graduate College
Student Government Student
Graduate Student
Back to our roots when…
“the university was engaged in
civic advancement,
and the city
was engaged in
intellectual advancement,
and the two
were joined.”
- Dr. Ernest Boyer
A Nation in Need of Collaboration
• As a nation, higher education is no longer viewed as
a public good; students are focusing on their
intellectual education, graduating, and obtaining a
job. We need to educate our students to become
global citizens who actively participate in the
betterment of their communities, not just train them
for a specific career.
▫ This starts here and now with our community. If we as
a university are not connected to our surrounding
community, how can we expect students to do any
differently when they leave here?
 We need to lead by example.
Boyer, E. (1996). The scholarship of engagement. Journal
of Public Service and Outreach, 1(1), 11-20.
1st Step: Create an
Office of Community Engagement
• In order to mend and enhance the relationship
between our university and the community we
need to recognize that this is not a quick fix. Like
any relationship, it require continuous and
evolving care.
▫ This office will serve as the university’s primary
source for repairing the bond with the community.
A full-time Director, along with a graduate
assistant will lead this initiative, beginning with
the following suggestions & programs.
Office of Community Engagement
• CELP - Community Engagement Leadership Program
▫ Students become leaders largely through civic engagement
▫ Each student is paired with a mentor from the community
▫ Attending a town hall meeting is a requirement
• Student Organization (Sunnyvale Serves)
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Executive board & student volunteers /members
Staff Advisor
Volunteer community advisor from mayor’s office
Organize & implement service days & drives, among other
community centered initiatives
• Community Activities/Events
▫ Sunnyvale Saturday
▫ Sustainable Sunnyvale
▫ SU4Youth
Continuing Activities
• Sustainable Sunnyvale
▫ Community and campus wide recycling initiative lead by Sunnyvale
Student Organizations (primarily by Sunnyvalle Serves) and head of town
recycling committee. Leaders will work together to incorporate both
university and community recycling centers in the program. Students and
community leaders will lead a collaborative effort to educate the university
and community on best waste-reduction practices. The group will focus on
education through visits to local schools and student organizations, as well
as establishing a presence at campus and community events.
• SU4Youth
▫ Sunnyvale University for Youth will be a mentor program for local students
K-12. The program will utilize SU staff, faculty, and students as mentors for
local students. Some of the services and opportunity provided by SU4Youth
will be:
 Free tutoring for students K-12 provided by Sunnyvale University students
 College essay and application assistance provided by SU students for high
school juniors and seniors
 The Sunnyvale Community Scholarship
▫ One local student awarded a full scholarship to SU for partaking in the program
Sunnyvale Saturday (Annual Event)
• Family Fun Run
▫ 3K family friendly walk/run begins at in the center of
downtown $10 to register. All proceeds benefit proposed
community center (you’ll hear about this soon!)
▫ Ends at the center of town with a lunch provided by the
university
• Sunnyvale Carnival
▫ Games and attractions provided by university groups as
part of their programming initiatives
▫ Students in CELP, the leadership program, must
participate in the carnival as part of course curriculum
▫ Admission is a donation of any amount
▫ All games, attractions, and food free
▫ Donations will benefit the community center
renovations and/or upkeep
Sunnyvale Saturday, cont.
• Sunnyvale Soiree
▫ Gala held at the end of Sunnyvale Saturday for local
business owners, community leaders, university
administration and student leaders
 $50/person dinner *
 Office of Community Engagement will assist students in
fundraising efforts to afford tickets
 Student organizations or community groups may sponsor a
table for $200
 On-site child care provided *
 Silent auction
*Partner with Early Childhood Development and Hospitality
Management faculty to offer incentive (i.e. internship hours) to
their advanced students to work the event.
Communication Efforts
• Twitter: Utilize hash tags such as #SUserves to promote and
organize event updates. People can follow the tag to keep up-t0-date
and connected.
• Facebook: Create a Facebook page for the Office of Community
Engagement to allow people to “like” the page and gain access
information about what we are up to.
• YouTube: Actively demonstrate progress that is being made in the
community through highlight videos.
• Instagram: Share photos that help others follow progress of and
see SU engaging in the community. Will also utilize hash tags like
Twitter.
• School Newspaper & Town Newspaper (Print and Online):
Create working relationship between both entities to share postings
and/or articles of important news and events going on in the
community and campus.
2nd Step: Graduate School Relocation
Build a new graduate school on the Sunnyvale Campus for use by Fall 2013 semester
• Mission: Keep our graduate students linked to the campus and
decrease heavy traffic in town center.
• Once the new graduate school is completed we will begin renovation
on the current downtown facilities immediately.
• Propose to create a community center to be used and operated
by our students as well as community members.
• Include wellness facilities and programs
• Open for use by Fall 2014 semester.
Goals:
1. Improve collaboration of all university community
engagement programs.
2. Strengthen relationship between university and
community.
3. Strengthen networks of universities committed to
serving their local communities.
(Netter center)
3rd Step: Build a Community Center:
Sunnyvale Wellness & Activity Center
#SWAC
Wellness Center Amenities
Programs Available
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• Tutoring Center ( Available
for Students K-12)*
• Music Lessons/Auditorium *
• Lecture Hall
• Meeting Rooms
• Daycare Center*
• Restaurant/ Banquet Space
Fitness Center
Weight Room
Gymnasium
Lap pool
Aerobic Rooms
Locker Rooms
* Operated by qualified Sunnyvale University students (i.e. early
childhood development, hospitality management, and music majors)
with assistance/supervision from faculty & staff
Proposed SWAC Layout & Pricing
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Community Membership Cost: Day pass: $5.00, Monthly pass: $30.00, Yearly $340.00
Family Membership costs will also be incorporated
Sunnyvale University Student Cost: Free with Student ID; Included in semester student fees
Image obtained from http://www.fulopassociates.com/Commcenter.html
Justification
• Involvement in the community will help
students develop moral thought process. This is
shown through Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral
Development
 Individualistic, Instrumental Morality where
students follow rules if it is in their interest to do so.
Right is defined by what they view as fair.
 Aim to develop students to Social System
Morality where they try to maintain social order
and consider society as a whole when making
judgments. They maintain law and order by
following the rules, doing their part, and respecting
authority.
Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido-DiBrito, F., Patton, L. & Renn, K. (2010). Student development in
college: Theory, research, and practice, (2nd Edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Justification
• Astin’s Involvement Theory shows that students
who actively participate in campus activities can
create a positive impact on their own development
and learning.
• For student growth to take place, students need
to actively engage in their environment:
 Academic involvement, Faculty involvement, involvement with
peers, involvement at work, and community involvement
▫ The Office of Community Engagement will provide
students with opportunities to get involved beyond the
classroom.
▫ A community center will provide further opportunities
for university and community members to interact and
build positive relationships.
Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido-DiBrito, F., Patton, L. & Renn, K. (2010). Student development in
college: Theory, research, and practice, (2nd Edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Justification
• Chickering’s Theory of Identity Development provides
seven developmental tasks that students complete in the
formation of their identity. Students will:
▫ Develop intellectual, physical, & interpersonal competence
 Through real-life work experiences within the community
center, community service projects, and the CELP community
mentorships
▫ Learn to manage emotions
 By working through conflicts in team settings
▫ Develop mature interpersonal relationships
 Through working with other students, staff, and community
members
▫ Developing integrity:
 Learn to balance the interests of others with the interest of
themselves & balance personal values with socially responsible
behavior
Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido-DiBrito, F., Patton, L. & Renn, K. (2010). Student development in
college: Theory, research, and practice, (2nd Edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Justification
Why so much social media?
• If we want to reach students, we need to go to where they
are. They’re online, so we will be too.
▫ 51% of American teens log on to a social network site more
than once a day
▫ 22% percent log on more than 10 times a day (Listfield)
Move Graduate Building to Campus
• Often times graduate students are neglected; services are
primarily geared towards undergraduates. Studies show
that these students still benefit from involvement and a
sense of community on campus (Kern-Bowen & Gardner)
▫ Moving their building to campus is a first step to
encouraging them to connect
▫ This could also help reduce the amount of student traffic in
the center of town
Timeline – what and when
• Sunnyvale Serves Student Organization – Before end of semester
▫ Director of Student Activities will serve as the temporary advisor until
the Office of Community Engagement is up and running
▫ This committee will recruit student leaders for the organization
 Student Government Association members have already volunteered to
assist in the formation of the group
• Office of Community Engagement – May 1, 2013
▫ Need time to hire a full-time professional and set up the office
 Will temporarily be housed within the Student Services Office
▫ Community Engagement Leadership Program will be developed over
the summer by the new professional
 Implemented during Fall 2013
• New Graduate School – Fall 2013
▫ Dean of the Graduate School, VP of Finance, and Dean of Students
will head this proposal: high priority, need quick turn around
• SWAC Building – Fall 2014
▫ Must wait for the Graduate School to move to their new location and
finish renovations
Summary
• The proposed services and activities will assist
students in their personal development and
becoming more connected to their communities
• By engaging in the community our students will
show the town they positively contribute to the
area, and foster positive relationships between
the two
• Moving the graduate college will not only assist
in reducing the amount of traffic in the center of
town, but connecting our graduate students to
the university as well
• Connecting with students and the community via
social media will promote the bond between our
communities, spread the word about what we
are up to, and encourage people to join
References
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Boyer, E. (1996). The scholarship of engagement. Journal of Public Service and Outreach, 1(1), 11-20.
Boyer, E. (1994). Creating the new american college. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from
http://chronicle.com/article/Creating-the-New-American/93483/
Bringle, R. G., & Hatcher, J.A. (1996). Implementing Service Learning in Higher Education. Journal of Higher Education,
67(2), 221-239. Retrieved from http://fyc.niu.edu/engagedlearning/service/docs/bringle_hatcher1996.pdf
College of William & Mary. (2013). Community Engagement. Retrieved from https://www.wm.edu/offices/oce/index.php
Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido-DiBrito, F., Patton, L. & Renn, K. (2010). Student development in college: Theory,
research, and practice, (2nd Edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Furze, J., Black, L., Peck, K., & Jensen, G. M. (2011). Student perceptions of a community engagement experience:
Exploration of reflections on social responsibility and professional formation. Physiotherapy Theory & Practice, 27(6), 411421.
Kern-Bowen, J., & Gardner, R. (2010) Creating Campus Community for Graduate Students Through Programs, Services,
and Facilities. The Bulletin, 78 (2) . Retrieved
from http://www.acui.org/publications/bulletin/article.aspx?issue=22641&id=12132
Listfield, E. (2011, October 7). Generation Wired. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from
Parade: http://www.parade.com/health/2011/10/generation-wired.html
Lockwood, D., Lockwood, J., Krajewski-Jaime, E. R., & Wiencek, P. (2011). University and Community Partnerships: A
Model of Social Work Practice.International Journal Of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 6(1), 39-46.
Netter Center. (n.d.). Our Mission. Retrieved from https://www.nettercenter.upenn.edu/about-us/our-mission
Rollins College. (2012). Community Engagement. Retrieved from http://www.rollins.edu/communityengagement/
University of Arkansas. (n.d.). Center for Community Engagement. Retrieved from http://service.uark.edu/
University of Louisville. (2013). Office of Community Engagement. Retrieved from
http://louisville.edu/communityengagement
University of Minnesota Morris. (n.d.). Office of Community Engagement. Retried from
http://www.morris.umn.edu/communityengagement/assessment/
Virginia Commonwealth University. (2012). Division of Community Engagement Retrieved from
http://www.community.vcu.edu/about/