A multi-year initiative begun by CIC in 2000 to assist institutions in making connections with local community organizations has moved to a new phase this summer. The centerpiece of the Engaging Communities and Campuses Program—a $1.5 million grant program funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies—officially concluded on June 30. The culminating project activity, an Effective Practices Exchange, is currently being developed, and an ongoing evaluation of the project will be completed by December 2003.
     The initiative was comprised of three separate but related activities—regional teaching and learning workshops, the creation of a web-based effective practices network, and the national grant program administered by the Consortium for the Advancement of Private Higher Education (CAPHE), a grantmaking unit of CIC. Grants of up to $80,000 were awarded to 13 colleges and their community partners (out of an applicant pool of 113 college/community teams) in January 2001. The grants helped colleges and universities partner with off-campus community organizations both to enhance student learning and to assist community organizations and residents in addressing critical issues.
     A special report on the program (see links below) provides highlights of many activities, including a two-year evaluation and the resulting publications; the effort to collect, document, and disseminate effective practices; and a final conference to develop ways for the partners to strengthen and sustain their work together even as the program concludes. In addition, several grant program participants share some of their important successes in “Voices from the Field.”

The final conference of the Engaging Communities and Campuses Program was held in Miami, FL in February. Corinne Anderson (left) and Stephen Rozman of the Tougaloo College Partnership confer between sessions.

• Engaging Project Assesses Ambitious Goals
• Campuses Aided in Developing Community-Based Programs
• Final Conference Focuses on Sustaining Community/Campus Partnerships
• Two-Year Study Evaluates Collaborations
• Disseminating Information and Findings
• Civic Engagement Activities Affect Student Values, Attitudes, Report Shows
• Voices from the Field

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Last updated: March 2003
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