Compelled to Serve
Acade mic C ommu n i t y S e rv i c e Le a r ni ng P r o g ram
EAGLE EXCELLENCE
COMPELLED TO
SERVE
The Academic Community Service Learning Program, also known as ACSLP, was established by former NCCU Chancellor Julius L. Chambers in October 1993. The mission of the community service program is to encourage involvement by students, faculty, staff and administrators involvement in meaningful communityengaged and community-based initiatives. A major function of the community service program is to document and show commitment and impact to the community on the state and national levels. ACSLP’s work since 1995 toward the establishment and successful implementation of a community service graduation requirement of 15 clock hours per semester demonstrates NCCU’s commitment to direct community service on all levels. In addition, the community service requirement further institutionalized the motto of NCCU’s founder, Dr. James E. Shepard,“Truth and Service.” Since implementing the service requirement, an average of 3,200 NCCU students have provided 218,924 clock hours to the community. Furthermore, according to Independent Sector.org; the volunteer rate of $23.56 equates to an estimated value of a $5.15 million donation to the
community through practicums, non-paid internships, clinical, and field experiences. Thus, NCCU community engaged events such as the Habitat Build, Eagle Pride Blood Drives and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walks have proven to be a valuable resource to the community. The ACSLP office serves more than 100 community agency partners in the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill areas. ACSLP’s community agency partners include nonprofit organizations, schools, religious organizations, governmental agencies, and national organizations.
For information, please visit: www.nccu.edu/communityengagement
major accomplishments include... The 2015 Carnegie Engagement Classification for Community Engagement & Outreach and Partnerships. On December 18, 2008, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching announced its 2008 Community Engagement Classifications. NCCU was one of the 120 institutions to receive the distinction of Carnegie Classification. In 2015, NCCU was re-classified as an engaged campus and is among 361 institutions to receive the 2015 Community Engagement Classification. The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. North Carolina Central University has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for eight years. Launched in 2006, the Honor Roll recognizes colleges and universities across the nation that support innovative and effective community service and service-learning programs. The Honor Roll is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and is sponsored by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the USA Freedom Corps, and the
U. S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development. In 2007, NCCU was one of only seven North Carolina higher education institutions to make the Honor Roll with Distinction designation. In 2014, NCCU was one of five NC Higher Education institutions to achieve the honor roll with distinction designation. Fifth Eagle Habitat Home. May 2, 2015, NCCU dedicated its fifth Eagle Habitat home in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Durham, NCCU students, faculty, staff, administration and community members. The Eagle Habitat home was dedicated to a community member, Shante Bostic and family. We completed the first four homes near NCCU’s campus in the Eagle Village community. ACSLP hosts the America READS program. America READS is a federal workstudy program with the goal of promoting literacy among students in grades K-3. It currently serves six elementary schools. The America READS Program is administered by our AmeriCorps program participants.
ACSLP spearheaded the Summer of Service project that ended in 2010 and the NC-ACTS! Program that ended in June 2012. More than 130 STEM middle-school students participated in a CNCS grant-funded Summer of Service project, which was a structured service-learning opportunity on the campus of NCCU to examine the links between sustainable living, healthy eating and service to the campus and community surrounding NCCU. The service portion of the gardening/ beautification project consisted of planting and maintaining community gardens in the neighborhoods surrounding NCCU. NC-ACTS! stands for North Carolina-Activating Citizenship through Service! NC ACTS! is a civic engagement program that awards a $1,000 education grant to students upon successful completion of 300 direct and indirect service hours.
Eagle Excellence. North Carolina Central University is one of the first Historically Black Colleges/ Universities (HBCUs) to require students to perform service in the community.
The motto of North Carolina Central University is “Truth and Service.” Consequently, there has been a noticeable verve for community service since the founding of the institution. However, after the university adopted a formalized community engagement program in 1995, NCCU has become a more vital neighbor and citizen of the community. The spirit of community engagement has permeated every segment of the university.
ACSLP’S COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDE:
The key core values of the university include the “promotion of citizenship, service and social justice.” This is among the core values that are integral to the university’s mission. NCCU has student success as its highest priority.
Activate Good American Red Cross Carolina Meadows DPR: Durham Parks and Recreation DPS: CC Spaulding Elementary School DPS: Fayetteville Street Elementary School DPS: Hillside High School DPS: James E. Shepard Magnet Middle School
The university’s 2020 Strategic Plan also has community engagement as one of its five goals, focusing on increased attention to community and communitybased learning which, has encouraged and strengthened university-community partnerships. The most important aspect is centered on addressing authentic community needs. Partnerships developed through community-based learning, research, community-led initiatives and service events have fostered new avenues for student, faculty and community engagement.
DPS: WG Pearson Elementary School Durham Crisis Response Center Durham Rescue Mission
Museum of Durham History Ronald McDonald House of Durham Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club
Habitat for Humanity of Durham
St. Joseph A.M.E. Church
Healing with CAARE, Inc.
Together for Resilient Youth (TRY)
John Avery Boys & Girls Club Mt. Calvary United Church of Christ
St. Titus’ Episcopal Church
UNC-TV Urban Ministries of Durham
Featured Carnegie Foundation Projects PARTNERSHIP NAME
DESCRIPTION
Building a Bridge to Literacy For African-American Male Youth: A Call to Action for the Library Community
NCCU’s School of Library and Information Sciences partnered with UNCCH to convene a summit, held in June 2012, of national stakeholders to focus on the role of libraries and librarians in addressing the literacy achievement gap in young African-American males.
Choice Neighborhoods Initiative
The goal of this two-year planning grant is to develop a comprehensive, community-driven plan to revitalize public or other HUD-assisted housing and transform distressed neighborhoods in Southeast Central Durham, which includes the area around the NCCU Campus.
NC State Sexual Violence Prevention Team (formerly EMPOWER)
The NC Sexual Violence Prevention Team is a group of 20 key stakeholders from across the state who are committed to ending sexual violence in North Carolina.
Fitness In The Shop (FITShop)
Three-year community-based participatory research project testing an intervention in black barbershops to increase physical activity among African-American men.
KIPP Gaston College Preparatory 7th Grade Field Trip to NCCU Law
The goal is to expose KIPP GCP students to a university and law school environment.
Legal Eagle Law Camp
The Legal Eagle Law Camp is a week-long summer day camp, held at the Law School, designed to introduce rising seventh to rising 10th grade students to law, the legal system and careers in the legal field.
Liberian Internship and Consultation
EMPA students utilize past work experience in conjunction with critical thinking skills and enhanced analytical skills taught in the EMPA program to be of service to the Republic of Liberia Civil Service Agency.
Featured Carnegie Foundation Projects cont. PARTNERSHIP NAME
DESCRIPTION
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) is a part of the Law School’s Clinical Legal Education Program. Initiated in 2011 with partial funding from an IRS grant, the LITC provides free legal services to eligible members of the community who have a tax controversy with the IRS and also conducts educational seminars and outreach to the community.
Mobilizing Faith Based Communities in Disasters; Planning and Intervention for Gangs, Hate Groups and Terrorist Recruitment in Rural Jails and Prisons; Community Threat Group Identification & Assessment for Rural Law Enforcement
The program is structured to develop and deliver eight-hour courses in rural communities that provide knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to enhance the safety, security and quality of life, strengthening the resiliency of the communities and improving intelligence sharing.
NCCU Law Pro Bono Program
The LITC provides free legal services to eligible members of the community who have a tax controversy with the IRS and also conducts educational seminars and outreach to the community.
Orange Grove 21st CCLC SMART (Science, Math, Advocacy, Reading, and Technology) Program
After school tutorial program provides services for 80 students in grades three through five integrating math, science, technology, advocacy, and environmental education.
Project I-M-ABLE (Individualized Meaning-centered Approach to Braille Literacy Education)
Provides research and training of teachers in North Carolina in the use of this approach for students with visual impairments and blindness.
Virtual Justice - Technology Assisted Legal Instruction and Services (TALIAS) Project
The Virtual Justice (aka Technology Assisted Legal Instruction and Services (TALIAS) Project aims to expand access to legal information and legal services for low-income residents and undergraduate students across North Carolina through high-definition video-conferencing technology.
The Durham Voice
NCCU and UNC students serve as reporters and mentors to teens for a community newspaper produced for Northeast Central Durham, an underserved community in Durham.
Women’s Inspiring Learning Momentum (WILL)
The Women Inspiring Learning (Momentum) W.I.L.L. program is focused on girls in the Durham community and cultivates their aptitude for science by pairing them with a mentor, exposing them to many career possibilities and providing academic enrichment with hands-on experience.
Community-engaged Standouts NIYA KENDRICK // CLASS OF 2019
“
I’ve always lived by this quote from Nita Ambani: “Education is not a tool for development - whether individual, community and the nation. It is the foundation for our future. It is empowerment to make choices and emboldens the youth to chase their dreams.” This quote in particular drives me to remain active in creating the change I wish to see in the world. – NCCU America Reads Volunteer
JEFFREY OWENS // CLASS OF 2019
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Service is at the center of community; people helping people. By giving my time and setting a visual example of selflessness, I can only hope to inspire others to look for opportunities in their communities and schools to help others. – NCCU Men’s Basketball Team Manager
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM 1801 Fayetteville Street - 200 Eagle Campus Drive Durham, NC 27707 - (919) 530-7079 Email: communityengagement@nccu.edu www.nccu.edu/communityengagement
Academic Community Service Learning Program
2015-16 ACADEMIC COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT REPORT BY THE NUMBERS...
For information visit, please visit: www.nccu.edu/communityengagement North Carolina Central University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA, 300334097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of North Carolina Central University.