Columbus State Community College is proud to have encouraged good citizenship practices by providing students with opportunities to make a difference in our community. This can particularly be seen with our student group Phi Theta Kappa and with many other groups on campus.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is an honors organization where students of exceptional academic ability can actively contribute to positive social change. Columbus State sits in a low-income community where our resources are vitally needed. PTK has recognized this challenge by working with a public school in our area. In partnership with teachers and administrators, student needs were assessed. The result of this assessment has been a three-year tutoring program with disadvantaged students. PTK has also adopted a nursing home during the Christmas season to provide outreach to our citizens who are so often forgotten in these institutions. Our PTK students have also excelled in organizing drives for school supplies for homeless children in a nearby shelter–Faith Mission. They have also collaborated with our In-Service and Community Service Committees in collecting donations of toiletries and bedding for another shelter, Friends of the Homeless. In addition, PTK has adopted an AIDS camp and organized fund-raisers for this group.
There are even more good citizenship practices here at Columbus State. We have a recently organized a community service fraternal organization, Alpha Phi Omega, that is beginning to make its presence known on campus. Additionally, across campus, students have worked with faculty on service-learning projects. Some of their work has taken them into homeless shelters throughout the city to collect scientific data on the experiences and needs of our homeless citizens, We also have various activities spearheaded by our employees such as the Financial Aid Department s autumn 1998 book drive and the Multicultural Office s superb work with leading our campuswide participation in Operation Feed in Spring, 1999.
We are all too familiar with the problems that exist in our society. We can contribute to positive social change in a profusion of ways. To us, a good citizenship practice is one that enhances our community, our college, and ourselves.
Contact: Charles Gallucci , Phi Theta Kappa advisor
