Improving Town-Gown Relationship Through Collaborative Strategies
Belief driving the plan to connect Sunnyvale University students with the local community for better relations. Focus on collaboration, community outreach, and policy for a positive impact.
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CITIZENSHIP AND COLLABORATION SUNNYVALE UNIVERSITY Western Michigan University Jaclyn Rivard : Meredith Atchison : Kira Dow : Emily Lott
PRESENTATION OUTLINE Introduction Social Change Model Student Engagement: On-Campus Community Collaboration Community Outreach Community Engagement Policies
INTRODUCTION It is our belief that in order to improve the town-gown relationship between Sunnyvale University and the local town, we must focus on collaborating with, and building stronger relationships with community members. The following presentation will outline our plan and key strategies for connecting Sunnyvale students with local community members in order to improve the relationship between the two entities.
SOCIAL CHANGE MODEL Focused on the deep understanding of oneself and others to help foster community change Made up of 3 different perspectives Individual Identity Member of Sunnyvale (student, faculty or staff) Group Identity Sunnyvale University as a whole Community Identity Sunnyvale University + Sunnyvale Community (Dugan & Komives, 2010)
THE 7 CS OF THE SOCIAL CHANGE MODEL Consciousness of Self Congruence Commitment Individual Values Group Values Community Values Citizenship Collaboration Common Purpose Controversy with Civility
Implementing the 7 Cs at Sunnyvale Collaboration: Third Fridays at Sunnyvale Controversy with Civility: encourage shared access to student government and city council meetings. Consciousness of Self: International Town and Gown Association Certificate Program Common Purpose & Citizenship: Sunnyvale Action Team Commitment: Career Center Partnership including internship and shared access to career center resources Congruence: Policy Changes
STUDIES SHOW Top 5 Things Communities Wish Universities Would Do: Invite community members onto campus Provide more parking for students Work on mutually beneficial projects with the city Better manage student rentals Partner with the community in children s outreach activities (Bruning, 2006)
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT: ON-CAMPUS Late night programming Thursday and Friday evenings Develop a survey to capture level of student interest Events open to the community for a small fee Create incentives to live in University housing after Junior year Discounted housing $50 Laundry Card Raffle for gift cards to local restaurants/stores in community Certificate Programming (www.itgau.org) Students wishing to live off-campus must complete the International Town and Gown Association (ITGA) Certificate Program in Town Gown Relations prior to moving into the local community.
SUNNYVALE STUDENT ORIENTATION VIDEO: COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Sunnyvale Student Orientation: Community Connections
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION Create a Community Engagement Coordinator position on campus Create an Internship and Volunteer Opportunities Database that lists internship and volunteer opportunities in the community. INTERNSHIPS VOLUNTEERING Local businesses can provide students with professional experiences Provides the business with additional resources for little to no cost Students bring new perspectives to the business Collaborate with Sunnyvale Career Center to make contacts for internships Win-Win situation intentional interaction Volunteer opportunities within the community Organizations or individuals can post their needs in the database Students can give back to the community as well as earn volunteer hours Organize large bi-annual volunteer events that bring students into the community. Mentoring opportunities for students and community members Develop Sunnyvale Action Team
SUNNYVALE ACTION TEAM Students can join as individuals, and student organizations will appoint a representative member Community members or organizations can suggest service projects or request student help via online form or in person at regular meetings Service will be performed 1-2 times monthly as determined by the student leadership of this new organization
We should entirely shift our focus from our traditional approach of pondering what we could do TO the community or even FOR the community, to a mindset of candidly discussing what we could do WITH the community. Carr (2003)
COMMUNITY OUTREACH Meetings with Community Leaders Students: Students attend community events to gain a better understanding of how their actions impact the community at large Bring the community voice back to their peers Students learn to respect community and community members Community leaders: Invite community members to attend student government meetings to gain a better understanding of the campus community and student body Individuals have the opportunity to build relationships with one another College leadership: Attend city council meetings regularly and include student leaders (student body president) in the conversation. College President and town s Deputy Mayor attend major events together such as Welcome Week, Move-In, and other large campus events (Hibel, 2012).
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Host annual Community Barbeque Kick Off and Town Hall Meeting asking community for input on programs and resources they would like to see available to them on campus. Ask community for feedback on ideas they have Share our ideas with the community: Recreation Center discounts Kids summer / after school camps Arts discounts - theatre, arts Career Center - access to services - job postings, resume reviews, career fairs, practice interviews - volunteering Public computer labs on certain days Library memberships for community members - partner with local library for interlibrary loans to create a relationship instead of a replacement Discuss which of the suggestions serve the community well, proceed with community input 96% of community members that attended an event on campus felt the university was an asset to the community. (Bruning, 2006)
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Develop a Good Neighbor Orientation for students and community members Program at the beginning of each semester Defines town-gown relationship Expectations of both community and student population Share benefits to campus and community regarding collaboration and involvement Share events planned to bring community and campus together in a positive manner 3rd Friday Program: Invite community members to campus and build partnerships On the third Friday of every month, community and campus partner to provide entertainment for both populations Student Center hosts a local talent and local food vendor Downtown hosts festival each third Friday drawing in community members and students Host student and community talent showcase Local food Speakers Celebrate the accomplishments of both the college and city
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS WEBSITE Sunnyvale.edu/Connections
SUNNYVALE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS COMMERCIAL Sunnyvale Community Connections Commercial
POLICIES To live off-campus, students must: Live on-campus through their Junior year Not have any prior conduct issues on campus Follow guidelines established in the International Town Gown Association (ITGA) Certificate Program Training The long-term property committee will start pursuing property to build a new parking structure downtown. Students will be encouraged to park here whenever they re in the neighborhood, and it will be open for community use as well. Sunnyvale University will be more attentive toward the off- campus behavior of Sunnyvale students; campus police will be more accessible to the community for reporting conduct issues and other concerns. Code of Conduct: Policy Statement About Off-Campus Behavior
CODE OF CONDUCT: POLICY STATEMENT ABOUT OFF-CAMPUS BEHAVIOR Sunnyvale University reserves the right to review student misconduct that occurs off campus when such behavior reflects upon the integrity of the University. On- and off-campus, students serve as representatives of Sunnyvale University, and both positive and inappropriate behavior affect the University s image and reputation. Students are encouraged to be involved in their community in positive ways, such as community service and local government. The University desires to have students act as responsible and mature representatives on campus, in the neighboring community, and in the world at large. (This is adapted from John Carroll University)
As administrators of Sunnyvale University and members of this community, it is our goal to create a collaborative environment that bridges the gap between town and gown, and fosters growth and understanding. We believe that the plan we have outlined will increase the civic engagement of our students, and build stronger citizens.
REFERENCES Bruning, S. D., McGrew, S., & Cooper, M. (2006). Town-gown relationships: Exploring university- community engagement from the perspective of community members. Public Relations Review, 32, 125-130. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2011.03.031 Carr, S. L. (2003). Love and hate: exploring the relationship between college and community. The Vermont Connection Journal, 24, 123-132. Retrieved February 9, 2013, from www.uvm.edu Dugan, J.P. & Komives, S.R. (2010). Influences on college students capacities for socially responsible leadership. Journal of College Student Development, 51-5, 525-549. Hibel, A. (2012). The blending of communities: Town and gown relationships at colleges. HigherEdJobs.com. Retrieved from http://www.higheredjobs.com/HigherEdCareers/interviews.cfm?ID=347 John Carroll University. (n. d.). Off-campus behavior policy. Retrieved from http://sites.jcu.edu/deanofstudents/pages/community-standards/off-campus-behavior- policy/ Tuttle, J. (2012) Effective policies for your college town. ICMA Annual Conference Presentation. Retrieved from: webapps.icma.org/conference_Handouts/handouts2012/Towm%20Gown%20Williamsburg 1.pdf
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