The Engaged Campus Newsletter: a publication of the Salt Lake Community College service-learning program
By Gail Jessen
I attended the Community Writing Center workshops on creating a newsletter. This experience was invaluable to the production of The Engaged Campus newsletter. For one example, prior to this workshop I would not have considered an editorial policy. Based on CWC coaching and writing exercises, I established an editorial policy and now see it as a legitimizing aspect of the publication.
Another direct outcome of the workshop is the title of the newsletter and thereby the focus. I approached this project with a narrow scope of creating a publication exclusively for faculty, The Engaged Scholar. Based on suggestions from the CWC workshop facilitator and other class members, I re-evaluated the audience, content, and purpose. The newsletter is now both a college-wide and community-wide publication for faculty, students, and community partner organizations. These workshops provided the space and the feedback necessary for me to develop this idea. The publication is vastly stronger because of it.
The front page article, “Welcome to volume one, issue one: Why The Engaged Campus?” describes the audience, content, and purpose of newsletter.
Why The Engaged Campus newsletter? Because we need to tell our story. Your story. Since fall 2004 SLCC has designated 42 service-learning courses. Most recently, in 2006-2007, 1,871 students enrolled in designated service-learning courses and performed 28,065 hours of service to the community, an economic value of $526,780.The Thayne Center was awarded $345,000 from the Corporation for National and Community Service Learn and Serve America (2003-2006). With these grant funds we revamped the service-learning program, built an infrastructure of 200+ community partner organizations, and developed a series of student-led initiatives.
Salt Lake Community College is recognized on the 2006 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, responding to the call of President Bush to support the mission of civic engagement at our nation’s colleges and universities.
In further recognition of our achievements, the American Association of Community Colleges selected SLCC as a mentor institution in the 2006-2009 “Community Colleges Broadening Horizons Through Service Learning” program. As a Horizons Mentor, we receive $5,000 each year to continue developing our program.
SLCC is nationally recognized as a leader in the field of service-learning and civic engagement. The Thayne Center shares this honor with all of our service-learning faculty, students, and community partners. The story of the service-learning program at SLCC is your story. The Engaged Campus newsletter shares your accomplishments, program developments, training opportunities, and more.
For more information, visit: http://thaynecenter.slpro.net
To view the entire newsletter, click here.
(Newsletter Workshop)