How One University Bridges Curricular and Co-curricular Service to Enhance Communities

Missouri State University

How One University Bridges Curricular and Co-curricular Service to Enhance Communities – Locally, Nationally, and Globally 

Katherine Nordyke, Director – Citizenship and Service-Learning (CASL)
Kristie Reynolds, Coordinator of Special Projects – Citizenship and Service-Learning (CASL)
Alex Johnson, Director – Community Involvement & Service 

To support and advance Missouri State University’s (MSU) public affairs mission and to bring students, faculty, and communities together, the University recently opened the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) on the MSU Campus.  Housed within the CCE is the Office of Citizenship & Service-Learning and the Office of Community Involvement & Service.  This allows the University to bring together curricular and co-curricular activities that advance civic engagement across the campus, the community, and beyond.  Missouri State University is a public, comprehensive metropolitan system with a statewide mission in public affairs, whose purpose is to develop educated persons and is the only university in the state of Missouri with a mission in Public Affairs.  MSU’s Public Affairs mission focuses on:

·      Ethical Leadership— Students will articulate their value systems, act ethically within the context of a democratic society and demonstrate engaged and principled leadership.

·      Cultural Competence— Students will recognize and respect multiple perspectives and cultures.

·      Community Engagement— Students will recognize the importance of contributing their knowledge and experiences to their own community and the broader society as well as the importance of scientific principles in the generation of sound public policy. 

MSU’s academic experience for its students is grounded in a general education curriculum that draws heavily from the liberal arts, sciences, and its public affairs mission. MSU serves over 23,000 students on four physical campuses with almost 4,000 faculty and staff members. During the 2012-2013 academic year, students from both curricular and co-curricular service contributed over 380,000 community service hours reflecting one avenue by which our students are engaged in service to others.  The Office of Citizenship & Service-Learning (CASL) serves both the community and the University for the benefit of both the academic endeavors of the University and the service goals of the community’s agencies. CASL seeks to enhance experiential learning that results in engaged citizenship and improved academic learning that benefits our democracy.  The Office of Community Involvement & Service is a set of programs focused on involving students in meaningful experiences throughout the community. Students can participate and get involved through opportunities for one-time service events in the Springfield community, immersion trips, ongoing service experiences, and connections to local community agencies.

Tying everything together is the university’s Center for Community Engagement.  The CCE works to increase the University’s involvement in local, regional, and statewide efforts at community engagement and works to increase the visibility and effectiveness of the university’s community engagement efforts by focusing on the following areas:

·      Community-based research and grant writing

·      Coordinating and facilitating MSU’s participation in community development initiatives by providing student volunteers and service-learning students with opportunities to strengthen their civic skills

·      Streamlining community engagement activities by working with the leadership of existing campus organizations

·      Tracking and maximizing the university’s civic footprint by collecting and analyzing data, providing an annual report, and making yearly recommendations on strategic priorities based on report findings

·      Establishing connections and securing partnerships with local, regional, state, and national community engagement organizations

 The Office of Citizenship and Service-Learning and the Office of Community Involvement and Service encourages other universities to consider and think about how they might bridge academic/curricular service and co-curricular service together to enhance student learning and experiences, and as a result, increase their university’s civic footprint and enhance the lives of their students, faculty members, and communities.