…and what does it have to do with you? Lynn White Blanchard Carolina Center for Public Service UNC-Chapel Hill N.C. Women in Municipal Government Breakfast Meeting October 24, 2011

 Background Personal and theoretical perspectives  University public service: then and now  Engagement: connections to teaching, research and service  Making connections

Raleigh, North Carolina (circa 1955) Brownie Troop 96

But what about the Felmans?

Responsiveness and Reciprocity!

 Public service is the application of knowledge, skills and resources for the common good.  Engagement is public service that occurs in reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnerships between the university and the community.  Engaged scholarship, while fully grounded as disciplined inquiry according to the highest academic standards, strengthens university- community relationships and contributes to the common good.

1916

 Initiative of General Administration  How can the university can respond to challenges facing the state through teaching, research and service?  Listening forums 11 community forms (2,700 attendees) 11 campus forums (1,000 attendees)  Online survey (6,700 responses) 2007

 Global readiness  Access to higher education  Improving public education  Economic transformation  Health  Environment  University’s outreach and engagement

 Campus-wide initiative to forge effective partnerships with economically distressed communities in North Carolina.  Assembles multi-disciplinary teams of UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, students, and staff to work with and support community partners in a comprehensive way.

 Caswell and Lenoir counties Streetlights, economic plans, classes, dropout prevention, obesity reduction, greenways, science education ….. Lenoir County Common Ground

What has more than 4000 legs, is Carolina blue and has grown almost 60 times its original size since 2003? Hint: Its native habitat can be found in 89 of 100 North Carolina counties, 40 other states, the District of Columbia and 24 other countries.

 2027 students representing more than 50 different majors have made the commitment to participate.  Since the program’s inception in January 2003, students in the program have contributed more than 743,875 hours of service.  183,581 of those hours were completed during 2010 (68% of which benefited NC).* * Estimated value in 2010 of more than $3.9 million.

40/50 states, plus DC 52 students representing 24 other countries

1,569 students from North Carolina, representing 89 of 100 counties

to classrooms in NC, every day Buckley Public Service Scholars are working to change the world. From teaching in South Africa…

 Community journalism project  Workshops around the state  Bucket Brigade  The Durham Voice

“ Launching the NECD Community VOICE has been the most satisfying and rewarding experience in my 27 years of teaching.” Union Independent School 2010

 Impossible to begin to capture the full range and scope of how Carolina connects to communities through teaching, research and service.  Two examples of how we have been recognized  Tips for possible connections

 Elective classification Community Engagement  Collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.  2006: UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State

President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll: 2009 Presidential Awardee Highest federal recognition for community service One of six (out of 780 applications) Only public four-year institution Only research institution Highlights of application 1800 students engaged in academic service learning More than 19,000 students engaged in community service More that 1 million service hours Three examples: Project Heal, C.H.E.A.P., and UNC NOW Honored at Radio City Music Hall

“Because the University exists to serve not only its students but also the state, nation, and the world, Reach Carolina embraces enthusiastically a comprehensive approach to engagement that will recognize, stimulate, and reward excellence in teaching and research on the part of all members of the campus community.” (from Executive Summary)

 Start with who you know and find out more. (Surf, explore and ask.)  Think of what you might need and what you have to offer.  Begin simply… and build.  Tie it to teaching, learning and/or research if possible.  Possible linkages: Internships Service-learning courses Community service days Research Professional schools and programs