Higher education is considered by some to be the ivory tower: a sector so removed from the rest of society that it had its own rules and agenda, where theory is more important than practice and students only experience the “real world” after graduation. Looking at the state of education today, however, it’s clear that students and professors alike have begun the climb down from the tower. Colleges and universities around the country are focusing on civic engagement and are taking greater strides to engage the community at large. These institutions are realizing that the benefits of higher education go beyond just their student body. They recognize that they hold the key to a powerful tool that can improve communities, especially in urban areas. Here are just a few of the many different ways colleges are approaching civic and community engagement:
Cleveland State University, an urban university whose major focus is “Engaged Learning”, has many different programs and projects designed to get students involved in the community. At the end of January this year, grants for $2,500 to $5,000 were awarded to 24 CSU faculty members and student organizations to be used across of variety of disciplines to promote community engagement. CSU is playing a large role in the redevelopment of Cleveland and is working to create a sustainable neighborhood that students can share with the community.
Drexel University, like many colleges, has a specific entity (the Lindy Center), dedicated to civic engagement; they provide various service opportunities for students and oversees clubs and programs for community engagement. As a university in an urban core, Drexel students participate in community projects in the neighborhoods surrounding the campus as a “long-term strategy to improve the quality of life”.With regular service projects and plans for a community outreach center built in the adjacent neighborhood of Powelton Village, Drexel students are making a difference in West Philadelphia.
Tufts University operates a number of projects and programs through its Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service. Every Tufts student belongs to this college and is able to take part in various engagement projects, regardless of their field of study. In their 2012-2013 annual report, Tisch College reported nearly 2,000 students enrolled in active citizenship courses and over 3,000 students contributing community service hours. One such project is the Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund. Last month, the TNSF awarded 22 local nonprofits with a total of $19,300 in grants.
These colleges and universities have recognized their potential to be the heart of their respective cities and to serve a greater purpose than mere education. They can act as the vehicle for change and can enormously improve the well-being of a city. That said, from a strictly educational standpoint, civic engagement is also a powerful tool. When students are learning something, it’s much more effective if they can actually put it into practice and see the results than if they were just reading about the work other people have done. Engaging the community as a student gives the chance for a young person to be aware of the world beyond their own life and helps them become valuable members of society. Civic engagement is mutually beneficial for students, universities, and the community. It’s a cycle of positive development that can be the key to unlocking truly successful urban environments across the nation. The idea of being ‘involved’ during your college years used to mean joining a club or participating in Greek life, but now getting involved means taking part as an active citizen in the greater community, and being able to see the benefits -- to you, and to the city you’re calling home.
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Olivia Bailey is a CEOs for Cities City Success Fellow. Olivia is a senior at Cleveland State University, majoring in Urban Studies, with a focus in Urban and Regional Planning. She is a native of Northeast Ohio and has spent the last few years living in Cleveland. She has plans to pursue a graduate degree in either Planning or Historic Preservation after graduating and getting some more real world experience.