Engaging in your Community

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Engaging in your Community

• Social Embeddeness at ASU

Presenter Name, Ph.D. Presenter Title, Arizona
State University Last updated 08-22-07     
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We want our students to be part of the
communities in which they live and form mutually
supportive partnership with the communities of
Arizona
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ASU has a vision of Arizona where communities
work together to cultivate their combined
creativity, knowledge, experience, and resources
to enhance, promote, and support the well-being
of its people.
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Role of Universities

• Throughout history, many universities defined
  their time and shaped their communities
• Many cities defined their times as well
• These communities and universities intersected to
  make a difference

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Why is Social Engagement Important?

• The growth of knowledge is too fast and too great
  to be kept isolated
• The values of an inclusive, democratic, and civil
  society demand that knowledge and resources be
  shared broadly
• The explosion of mass communications and
  technology create the potential for knowledge and
  community to be both more connected and also more
  complex

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Why does ASU Want to Be Engaged with the
Community?

• Universities can help communities address the
  challenges they face by
• Involving faculty and students in solving
  problems facing communities
• Supporting economic growth
• Enhancing the well-being of the diverse people
  and communities of Arizona
• Working closely with public and private
  institutions (e.g. schools, cities, businesses,
  community organizations, etc.)

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Benefits of Social Engagement for Students

• Apply your knowledge in the community
• Learn new things
• Make contacts and build a network
• Contribute to the well-being of your community
• Give back!

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Benefits of Social Engagement for the Community

• Benefit from our students energy and ideas
• Work with faculty experts on addressing
  challenges and solving problems
• Apply newest research to make positive changes in
  the community
• Support the universitys efforts
• Be a partner to the university

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How do I Connect?

• Ask your instructors if they have a community
  project you can get involved in
• Check with your academic advisor about community
  engagement opportunities in your college
• Take a service learning course where you can get
  academic credit for connecting your education to
  community service

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Web Resources for Community Engagement

• To find out more about service learning at ASU
  http//community.uui.asu.edu/features/servicelearn
  ing.asp
• To find out about service learning courses that
  tie volunteering in the community to your
  academic experience (http//uc.asu.edu/servicelear
  ning/index.php)
• To volunteer for a community organization through
  ASU (http//community.uui.asu.edu/volunteer.asp)
  
• To join a club at ASU they all have a community
  engagement component (http//www.asu.edu/studentaf
  fairs/mu/clubs/)