The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is engaged in promoting and integrating civic responsibility throughout the campus. In both the University s Strategic Plan and in the Mission Statement of the Division of Student Affairs, public service and service learning are strongly emphasized. In addition, as a member of Campus Compact, Chancellor Jean MacCormack is addressing the “”Presidents Declaration on the Civic Responsibility of Higher Education”" by encouraging the participation of students, faculty, administrators, and staff in community service activities and in developing community partners.

The following are examples of some of the activities and programs that the campus is involved in to promote civic responsibility:

1. The University received a grant from the Massachusetts Campus Compact (MACC) to host a MACC Americorps Vista Volunteer, Ms. Blanca Ramirez, from July 1998 to June 2000. This individual worked in cooperation with Dr. Gail Berman, Director of the Career Resource Center, to create an office, “”The Community Service Desk,”" to promote and coordinate community service activities that enhance civic responsibility. Some of these activities and programs include:

1. The “”Community Reading Program,”" which trains the UMD community with the necessary skills to work and tutor in an after-or-during-school program. The program so far has successfully trained more than thirty-five literacy tutors, both as volunteers and as work study students, and has partnered with local elementary schools, Carney Academy in New Bedford; Small Elementary in Fall River; and Davol Elementary in Fall River. More than 140 elementary students have participated in the program. Plans for sustaining and increasing campus involvement in the program are underway.

2. The Community Service Learning Program within the Federal Work Study Program. The placement of work study students within the community has increased by promoting community service and civic responsibility during Student Employment Orientation. A list of community partners and their respective job descriptions are provided at all orientation sessions.
3. The coordination of special events that promote service including “”Day of Service,”" a program within “”Welcome Back Week”" (the first week of school), “”Make A Difference Day,”" “”The OxFam Banquet,”" and “”Hunger and Homelessness Clean-Up Day.”"

2. The Division of Student Affairs awards and recognizes civic responsibility by sponsoring an annual “”Community Service Awards Banquet.”" Awardees represent all constituencies including students, faculty, staff, and community partners.

A special presentation to the Faculty Senate was arranged by the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Dr. Diana Hackney, to discuss and promote civic responsibility through service learning. Both the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Academic Affairs are working collaboratively to further promote and integrate service learning into the curriculum as it is now articulated in the University s Strategic Plan and Mission Statement.

Student Affairs web site: http://www.umassd.edu/studentaffairs/