- We empower our students for lives of engaged citizenship in mutually respectful partnerships in pursuit of a just, equitable, and sustainable future for communities beyond the campus – nearby and around the world.
- We embrace our responsibilities as place-based institutions, contributing to the health and strength of our communities – economically, socially, environmentally, educationally, and politically.
North Shore Community College (NSCC) has a long history of civic engagement. Key indicators of community engagement were described by the committee as being of high relevance or fully integrated into the culture of the institution. Seeking a goal for full integration was central to work of the Civic Learning Committee as they developed this Civic Action Plan. The committee was cognizant of the fact that this transition to full integration of civic engagement would necessitate a cultural shift. Key aspects of change literature will be essential to the implementation of this plan. This plan is aligned with the strategic plan and seeks to achieve specific goals outlined in this plan.
Strategic Framework: Academics
Goal: By 2021 student completion of courses will increase by 5 percentage points through challenging programs of study, innovative teaching practices, flexible delivery systems, engaging co-curricular activities, and expanding experiential learning opportunities. The following outcomes and their action items comprised the core of the plan: Outcome One: Strengthen college infrastructure/systems to mobilize civic engagement.
- Formally assess institutional supports and barriers to civic engagement goals.
- Review and revise civic action plan based on findings of assessment of institutional supports and barriers.
- Promote language around civic engagement in key documents and promotional material coming from college.
- Secure funding to support second Graduate Fellow in Civic Engagement to support Hispanic Population in civic engagement.
- Increase opportunities for recognition of civic engagement accomplishments within campus community.
- Pursue and acquire grants to advance civic engagement on campus.
- Attend and present at local, regional, and national conferences on civic engagement.
- Communicate student learning outcomes for service-learning courses with community partners.
- Develop assessment tools for use by community partners when evaluating student performance in service-learning activities.
- Formally assess community partner needs in terms of how NSCC can be a resource to the community.
- To strengthen assessment above bring, community partners on campus for focus groups.
- Develop an action plan for strengthening relationships with community partners based on assessment results.
- Implement tracking system for all community partner activity with college including implementation of surveys and evaluations.
- Promote NSCC’s partnerships in the community.
- Expand professional development on topics related to college and community collaboration.
- Present and share on models and best practices of working with community partners.
- Implement tracking system for all civic engagement activities.
- Increase co-curricular engagement opportunities.
- Embed service-learning across the curriculum.
- Make service-learning a requirement for certain degree programs.
- Increase professional development opportunities related to civic engagement for students.
- Expand professional development opportunities related to civic engagement.
- Create leadership roles for faculty and staff within civic engagement initiatives.
- Include civic engagement experience and interest in hiring postings for faculty and staff.