The Heartbeat of Civic Engagement in Community Colleges
Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo, Associate Vice Chancellor of the Center for Excellence in Inclusive Democracy at Maricopa Community Colleges & Facilitator of Campus Compact Community Colleges Network
The civic mission is inherent in the role of community colleges across the country. As articulated in the 1947 Truman Commission Report, colleges were envisioned as education for democracy and a way of restoring civic life. Written on the heels of WWII and a global fight against authoritarianism, it is not surprising that a fuller realization of democracy is part of our collective charge. This focus on civics and ensuring that our students leave us with the skills to fully engage in civic life can be challenging, however, for many colleges.
Community Colleges across the country ensure access to higher education for people from all walks of life, ages, and backgrounds including traditionally underserved populations. Our students are often first generation and juggling a host of life issues including family responsibilities and multiple jobs. Given these real life struggles that our students face, it is little wonder that colleges had to pivot quickly during the pandemic. From providing virtual access to an increased focus on basic needs support, colleges responded quickly, and rightly so. One of the unfortunate consequences of this shifting landscape has been challenges with enrollment, finances, and staffing, including support for civic engagement.
Despite the challenges, dedicated staff are the heartbeat of this work. Campus Compact’s support in creating a network for community college civic engagement practitioners has been invaluable. Monthly meetings of the community college network allow us to come together to share best practices, common struggles, and ideas for collective impact. The network is fortunate to have veterans in the field that join us to share their wisdom from years of experience. Equally as impactful are those new to the field, bringing a different energy and questions that help us all reflect on our work.
All of our community college partners are invited to join us for our monthly meetings. Join us as we share ideas, celebrate wins, and support one another in this work of the heart.
Community Colleges In Action
These community colleges and their partners illustrate different approaches to civic and community engagement that create powerful impact in communities.
College Renaissance Corps kicks off at Houston Community College and begins expansion
Hear more about how community colleges are partnering with Campus Compact’s CRCorps program to boost community enrollment in high-demand programs and empower students to serve as leaders in their industries and communities.
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Community Colleges are Critical to the Innovation Economy
In this article from The Chronicle of Higher Education, Shalin Hyotishi highlights the CHIPS and Science Act, which offers support for manufacturing and workforce development, and shares how community colleges, including Compact member Miami Dade College, are already bolstering our innovation economy.
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NJ community colleges & Princeton University model cross-institutional partnerships
Princeton University has launched the Program for Community College Engagement, which aims to partner with local community colleges to allow for shared learning, greater collaboration, and connection that creates greater impact at the institutions and in communities.
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Four Maricopa Community Colleges host event to encourage K12 girls to pursue I.T. careers
Mesa Community College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Rio Salado College, and Scottsdale Community College partnered to host the Girls Get IT event to teach participants about career possibilities available in I.T. and encourage high school students to pursue the next steps in their educational journeys.More →
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Raritan Valley Community College receives donation to benefit students who give back to their communities through the RVCC Service Learning Program, an initiative that enables students to use community service as part of their academic classwork and receive course credit for the experience | More →
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Portland Community College will launch the second season of its “Let’s Talk!” podcast focused on disability-related discussions with the aim of fostering inclusion, belonging, and equity while raising awareness about the experience of disabled students within the campus community | More →
Take action: Community College engagement efforts
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Read the new report from Lena Jones, As the Dust Settles: A Snapshot of Civic and Community Engagement at Community Colleges, which offers a look into civic and community engagement practices at community colleges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and offers key findings that have applications for practitioners at community colleges and beyond.
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Revisit Campus Compact’s free online book, Community Colleges for Democracy: Aligning Civic and Community Engagement with Institutional Priorities for stories and examples of civic engagement work on community college campuses
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Check out our existing library of community college-focused webinars covering topics like deliberative dialogues, assessment, and pathways of public service.
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Register for the Compact24 annual conference to hear from community college presenters. Plus, we’re offering a special community college pre-conference institute.
Community college members: need financial assistance to attend Compact24? Thanks to our partners at Lumina Foundation, we're excited to offer financial support to facilitate community college member attendance. -
Community college members: Join the Community Colleges Network.
Join Campus Compact
To leverage the full benefits of Campus Compact at your institution, join our coalition. Campus Compact membership offers valuable information, powerful networks, and opportunities to work collectively with peers across the country.