1. IMPACT Office Academic Complex, Room IMPACT is housed in the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque C.M. Institute for Civic Engagement

3. Vincentian Mission
Action is our entire task.

4. What has research shown us?
2016 National Assessment of Service and Community Engagement (NASCE) report done by Siena College Research Institute (SRI) reported:
We have reasons to be proud, but we want the high IMPACT!
Over 80% of NU students in 2016 have engaged in some kind of community service, significantly higher than national average of 49%.
When compared to scores from 53,387 students from , NU students outperformed other students in all 9 areas and overall.
Compared to institutions of a similar size, NU students participate in community service at a significantly higher rate (80% vs. 49%).
YET… 70% of our students leave NU not feeling a deep commitment to service.

5. The Values of IMPACT Traditional Models of Service-Learning IMPACT
Sporadic
Short-term
Based on partners’ immediate needs
Measured by counting service hours
Single semester commitment
Focused on identified community needs aligned to NU mission
Develops deep understanding of mission, service, collective impact, and systemic change
Project-based learning throughout academic disciplines
Career preparation through service
Research-driven/ measured by outcomes
Stresses leadership development

6. Niagara University’s IMPACT Model
Freshman
Discover
Develop an understanding of the importance of service to the mission.
Sophomore
Plan
Determine research need and plan ACTION project.
Junior
Action
Implement the project through service hours and area of expertise.
Senior
IMPACT
Collect data, analyze project to determine if outcomes were reached and identify IMPACT.
Alumni
Commit
Engage in communities to become agents of change.

7. How does IMPACT fit into Niagara University’s Mission Goals?
Niagara prepares its students for positions of responsibility in the professions and in the broader society. Through teaching, research and service in programs of study at the baccalaureate and graduate levels, Niagara seeks to develop within its students a passion for learning.
NU’s commitment to the Catholic faith provides perspective in the search for truth and meaning. Catholic doctrine and its moral code inspire respect for the God-given dignity of every person and all faith traditions. Students experience the vision and reality of a gospel-based, value-centered education.
Niagara draws inspiration from St. Vincent de Paul, who organized his contemporaries to respond compassionately to people's basic needs. Continuing this tradition, Niagara seeks to inspire its students to serve all members of society, especially the poor and oppressed, in local communities and in the larger world.
Overall, through its curricular and extracurricular programs, NU seeks to develop the whole person, mind, body, heart and soul, for the benefit of one's personal and professional life.

8. Key Components of Niagara University’s IMPACT Model
Leadership
Vincentian systemic change
Project-based learning
Collective impact
Creates an inspiring vision of the future, motivates people, and builds a team, so that it is more effective at achieving the vision.
Recognize community needs and explore long- term solutions in addition to meeting basic needs of community stakeholders.
Attaining much more and having greater IMPACT  when working collectively on an issue.
Gain knowledge and skills with others to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge.

9. Why we need to strengthen our commitment …
Poverty
Workforce development
Literacy
Health and Wellness
Early Childhood
Education
Unemployment rate
Niagara Falls %
Niagara County - 10%
Niagara Falls
36.4% children living in poverty
Niagara Falls
12.5% have Bachelor’s Degree or higher
Niagara County
30% functional illiteracy rate

10. More Reasons from Niagara Falls…
About
1 in 2 Niagara Falls residents are struggling financially
15%
of Niagara Falls’ most vulnerable have urgent concerns for food
37%
of the city’s
at-risk population are unemployed
1 in 4
of the most vulnerable in Niagara Falls do not have health insurance
277
students dropped out of high school in
10,900
Niagara Falls residents are below the federal poverty level
76%
of those surveyed are receiving some form of public assistance
15%
of Niagara Falls residents have less than a high school education

11. Cradle to Career Needs that can Eliminate Poverty
Early Childhood
Health and Wellness
Literacy
Social skills
Socio-economics
Education
Housing
Workforce preparation
Leadership

12. What can IMPACT do for your professional and personal growth?
Career preparation & resume building
Expand career possibilities
Hands-on experience outside of the classroom
Develop leadership skills
Enhance communication, problem solving, and analytical skills
Become an agent of change!

13. Why is this important from a career perspective
Why is this important from a career perspective? Value of volunteerism - $24.00/hour Value of skills-based volunteering - $150.00/hour

14. The Civic 50 Companies that hire NU Grads:
Aetna Inc.
AT&T
Citi
Deloitte
Fed Ex
KeyBank
Time Warner Cable
United Health Group
UPS
Verizon

15. “Action is our entire task”
For more information on the key components that make up IMPACT, proceed to the following modules!
“Action is our entire task”
St. Vincent de Paul