2022-23 Community and Economic Impact Report | York College of PA

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT

What is the role of higher education? Certainly, it is to affect the lives of our students through education. Our graduates are taught not what to think, but how to think. They enter their careers with real-world experience, a commitment to their craft, and a belief that they can change the world for the better.

At York College we also believe that our work affects the community. You see examples of that throughout this report. This is not only our goal; it is our obligation. It is a cornerstone of who we are. As we affect the community, so does the community affect all we do, and all we are.

The work of the Advancement Office is not to keep the lights on or keep a building standing. Our work is to advance the College so that it better prepares our students for life. Our work also helps make our community a better place in which to play, to work, and to live. You have made an investment in York College. We hope by reading this report, you see how we have made an investment in our community.

Thank you for learning more about how your investment in York College affects all of us for the better. We truly appreciate you—our alumni, our donors, and our friends—and we hope that this information found within this report makes you feel secure in knowing that your return on investment is strong.

Because of you, we are all proud to be Spartans!

With appreciation,

Troy M. Miller, CFRE Vice President, Development

OVERVIEW

Established in 1787, York College of Pennsylvania is a private, four-year college located in the city of York, a hub of arts and industry between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Housed on 190 picturesque acres, the College is known for its focus on experiential learning and community engagement, serving over 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 70 baccalaureate majors, along with 30+ professional graduate degree and certificate programs. Deeply rooted in the liberal arts and recognized for excellence in its professional business, education, engineering, and nursing programs, York is ranked among the nation’s Best Value Schools by Niche. The College’s robust recreation and athletics program is among the best in the region, and is home to 24 NCAA Division III sports teams and 30+ intramural sports. A Princeton Review Best Northeastern College, York prides itself on its experienced, engaged faculty; its high-impact and student-centric philosophy; and its long-standing commitment to affordability and accessibility.

Throughout its history, York College has been an integral part of the greater York community. York traces its lineage to three institutions. The York County Academy, York Collegiate Institute— located in Downtown York—and York Junior College educated students to assume leadership roles in the local community

and beyond. These institutions naturally evolved as the needs of the community in which they existed evolved.

Like its predecessors, today’s York College was created through community support. Many of its academic programs are shaped by input from local industry professionals to ensure graduates are prepared to contribute positively to organizations as interns, co-ops, or employees. Faculty and staff, many of whom are residents of the city of York, York County, or the greater region, make a difference in their community through their research and volunteerism. Students also contribute significantly to improving the lives of others through community-based learning and community service. York College’s diverse campus community brings different

perspectives to local, regional, and national issues. Cultural Series events draw community members to campus to enjoy art, music, and theatre from all over the world, as well as thought-provoking lectures and talks.

York College also creates a significant positive impact on the local business community and plays a productive role in the overall economic landscape of the region and state.

This report is a summary of the economic, social, and cultural impact that York College has upon its communities. It presents a number of key findings and provides an overview of some of the many and varied ways in which the College, its staff, and students, generate economic benefit and wider social and cultural value.

OVERVIEW

AT A GLANCE:

• York College’s economic impact on the state’s economy was estimated at $222.8 million in 2018. The College supports and sustains 2,150 jobs throughout the state and generates about $9.2 million in tax revenues for the Commonwealth of PA.*

• York College provided nearly $8 million in assistance to local governments and organizations in 2022.

• York College and its affiliate York Country Day School are significant employers within York County. Combined, they employ more than 2,300 individuals, with an annual payroll that exceeds $45 million.

• The J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship’s business incubator has assisted more than 100 entrepreneurs—more than 35 have been York College students—through resources and connections.

• More than 1,000 graduating Nursing majors are employed locally or regionally.

• Nearly 13,000 individuals visited York College from fall 2019 to spring 2023. Many visitors stay overnight in nearby hotels and enjoy the community’s restaurants, shops, and attractions.

• On average, 13 students from William Penn Senior High School are selected annually for the York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program (YCCOSP), which provides them with tuition, room and board, and living expenses throughout their time at York College.

• Since it opened in July 2017, the Arthur J. Glatfelter Institute for Public Policy has completed more than $3 million of in-kind research and analysis for local and state governments, as well as nonprofit and community organizations, and more than $230,000 in sponsored research and analysis.

• In 2022, students participating in SpartanServe logged nearly 800 service hours in the local community, assisting 27 community partners.

• Nearly 100 Cultural Series events—art, music, theatre, lectures, film, special presentations—are offered annually.

• Schmidt Library provides borrowing privileges to community members, alumni, and retired faculty with an ID card.

*according to a study commissioned by the Association of Independent College and Universities of Pennsylvania

ECONOMIC IMPACT

INVESTING IN REVITALIZATION

York College, WellSpan, and the Powder Mill Foundation established the Downtown Renaissance Fund in 2009 to aid with the continuing revitalization of the city of York. Each partner has committed more than $1 million to fund construction projects through equity investment and low-interest rate loans. All funds received back from the investments and loans will be recycled to fund future projects benefiting the community. Some projects supported by the Fund include the Bond Building, Keystone Colorworks, One West, and CODO 28.

CREATING JOBS AND PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE WORKFORCE

In addition to contracting with local vendors, York College and York Country Day School together employ more than 2,300 individuals, and the annual payroll exceeds $45 million. These employees contribute to the local economy by renting or purchasing homes, utilizing transportation and parking, and shopping at local businesses.

Advisory councils composed of local industry leaders help the Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology and the Graham School of Business tailor their programs to the economic needs of the region. Council members:

ATTRACTING VISITORS AND NEW RESIDENTS

218 unique volunteers 27 unique community partners 29 projects

766.5 volunteer hours $24,374.71 impact value

• Review curricula to maintain relevance and ensure programs are meeting industry needs to help prepare graduates for the workforce or graduate school.

• Facilitate interaction between local companies and York College students and faculty and connect the companies with resources at the College.

• Hire students and graduates to intern or work at their companies in York.

The Gunter-Smith Center for Community Engagement works with an advisory council composed of community leaders from various sectors to engage students in projects that bring mutual benefit.

York College attracts both residential students and visitors to York. Of the 3,500+ students who attend York College each year, more than half live on campus and often patronize local businesses. Nearly 13,000 individuals visited York College from fall 2019 to spring 2023. Visitors often stay in nearby hotels and enjoy local restaurants, shops, and attractions. The College’s two facilities in downtown York, The Gunter-Smith Center for Community Engagement and Marketview Arts, attract visitors by renting space for private functions and community events. Marketview Arts also supports local artists by facilitating artwork sales and renting studio space. In addition, based on data from the Americans for the Arts’ Arts and Economic Prosperity study, it is estimated that events at Marketview Arts contribute tens of thousands of dollars each year (above the cost of tickets) to the local economy.

INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL

GRAHAM SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Led by Associate Professor of Marketing Jef Woodall, students completed a brand analysis for the Byrnes Health Education Center and presented their findings to the Center’s CEO and Board. As a result, the Center made changes to its brand, logo, and messaging.

Community members participate in the York Business Academy (YBA) to build skills to both improve their personal economic situation and make York a better place to live. A number of past participants have opened businesses in the Greater York Area.

DR. DONALD E. AND LOIS J. MYERS SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS

The Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions won the York County Economic Alliance’s Spirit of YoCo Award in the Education/ Workforce Development category for initiatives undertaken, including creating new majors and graduate programs, that have contributed to the healthcare workforce in the region.

Guided by Assistant Professor of Marketing Renee Tacka, students put their marketing skills to work to provide Four Squares Construction and Development, a company committed to producing and managing affordable housing, with marketing advice, strategic analysis, and business recommendations.

The Entrepreneurship York High School program, an eight-week after-school workshop series run by faculty and students from the Graham School of Business and the Education program in partnership with York County Alliance for Learning, taught York County high school students how to problem solve, think creatively, create a business model, and pitch business ideas. Many of the participants launched or enhanced small side businesses.

Through a course on the economics of urban revitalization, students learned about funding sources and policies related to economic development and presented community partnership models to engage residents, property owners, and stakeholders in the collective effort of revitalization.

Led by Dr. Molly Sauder, Chair of the Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management Department, students developed a curriculum to teach stress reduction skills and character development concepts to the children at Lincoln Charter School via the sport of soccer.

Nine faculty serve (currently or in the recent past) on the Boards of Directors or Advisory Councils for 15 local nonprofit organizations.

Dave Freimuth, Adjunct Faculty in Operations and Information Technology, coordinated the opportunity with the York County Food Bank for students to analyze and apply Lean concepts in the food packing and distribution process.

Three Nursing faculty members— Drs. Carrie Pucino, Kelli Masters, and Carolyn Smith—participated in “Stop the Bleed” training at the Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit on March 25, 2023.

INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL

SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION

Associate Professors in Education

Dr. Katie Lewis and Dr. Josh DeSantis and Education students are helping Dr. Sherry RolandWashington prepare a curriculum to accompany documentaries by Keystones Oral Histories designed to share the stories of African Americans from York.

Professor of Psychology Dr. Carla Strassle serves as a trainer and researcher for the York County Crisis Intervention Team, helping prepare police officers to respond to situations involving an individual with a psychological disorder. Her work has impacted York County Probation and Prison employees and police officers from 20 police departments responsible for 446,000 York County residents.

Dean Stacey Dammann, Associate Professors Dr. Josh DeSantis and Dr. Laura Steck, and Assistant Professor Molly Milam welcomed behavioral services business leaders from across York County to a focus group exploring online programs for employee career development.

Associate Professor in Applied Behavioral Sciences Dr. Robyn Maitoza and students in her Applied Youth Development course mentor seventh and eighth graders from McKinley and Goode Schools in York City. This mentoring program has been in place since 2015 in partnership with Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania.

Criminology and Criminal Justice faculty Drs. Pete Leasure, Amie Scheidegger, PJ Verrecchia, and Kirsten Witherup have served as

research partners with the York County District Attorney’s Office since 2019 on the Group Violence Intervention project.

Professor of Applied Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Mary Ligon has facilitated an intergenerational oral history project for more than 15 years. York College students have conducted extensive interviews with over 500 older adults and written biographies of the elders’ lives.

Assistant Professor of Education

Stephanie Brown has engaged students in the Introduction to the Arts course in partnership with the Appell Center for its Stage the Page program, a literacy and theater arts program that brings popular children’s stories to life on the Strand Theatre stage.

As a capstone project for the Brain and Behavior course in Psychology, York College students design activities to teach fifth-grade students from Jackson K–8 about how the brain works.

Students in Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science/Sociology

Dr. Amanda Rich’s TraumaInformed Care in Human Services course are working to develop training and resource materials for staff with the York City Police Department’s Group Violence Intervention project on healing from compassion fatigue.

SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, COMMUNICATION AND GLOBAL STUDIES

Students in a Museum Studies course taught by Assistant Professor of History Dr. Jacqueline Beatty created an exhibit, launched at The GunterSmith Center for Community Engagement, which highlights the lives of people buried in York’s historically Black cemeteries. Students in Dr. Beatty’s Digital Public History class built a born-digital archive and exhibit highlighting the collections of the York County Rail Trail Authority on the occasion of the dedication of its connector in York City.

Associate Professor of Geography

Dr. Jennifer Pomeroy worked with Public History major Christian Shetter-Gervasi ’23 to help the Codorus Valley Historical Society with database design and building, mapping and analysis, and StoryMaps communication.

Associate Professor of History and Directory of General Education Dr. Kay McAdams has taught several Osher Lifelong Learning Institute courses at Penn State York for area senior citizens, including courses on the Use of History, Women and War, and Women in the Holocaust.

Associate Professor of Geography Dr. David Fyfe has consulted for the York County Community Foundation and the York Bar Association on intercultural competencies related to DEI work within their organizations.

INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL

Elizabeth Dunham, Lecturer of Rhetorical Communication, teaches Communication in Professional Cultures. For the past two semesters, the final project in the class has been to interview the President of York Day Early Learning, and working in groups, come up with a solution(s) to a challenge the center is facing.

Professor Craig Do’Vidio’s Advanced Production class was on site for the duration of the three-day White Rose Music Festival, recording video and audio during musical performances. Professional Writing major Alex Merritt ’24 also continued work on an independent study that involved surveying attendees and writing an after-event report.

KINSLEY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

Numerous Biology faculty have served as judges for local science fairs, including the Dallastown Area High School Science and Engineering Fair and the York County Science and Engineering Fair.

Dr. Sean Georgi, Assistant Professor of Biology, has been bringing students into the community to teach adults and kids about the brain since 2018. This has included exhibits at the annual Yorkshire Elementary School Science Night as well as organizing a free, public Brain Fair at Central Market in downtown York.

Associate Professor of Biology

Dr. Meda Higa and her Virology students worked with students from Logos Academy to teach them about the science of viruses. Dr. Higa also participated in former Gov. Tom Wolf’s press conferences educating the public on COVID-19 and served on a COVID task force for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York.

Engineering students volunteered for a Robotics Workshop open to local middle school and high school students held at Kinsley Engineering Center. During the two-day event, students learned basic coding and circuitry and were introduced to the robotics field.

Senior Chemical Engineering students worked with York Water Company’s engineering consultants to provide design and construction recommendations for a light-duty pedestrian bridge downstream of Lake Williams

Dam to allow pedestrian access to existing recreation trails while the dam was being upgraded.

Senior Chemical Engineering students worked with the City of York’s engineering consultant to determine the causes of erosion of the Codorus Creek bank and provide design recommendations to reduce the impact of erosion and improve slope stability and bank stabilization.

Senior Engineering students worked with a York not-for-profit organization, Fubar Farm, LLC, to design structures and improve the functionality of the farm dedicated to veteran outreach programs. Structural designs were completed for a bridge, pole barn, and retaining wall.

Senior Engineering students worked with Four Square Development and Construction on a project involving various stakeholders to employ and design low-cost residential housing structures utilizing shipping containers. The designs included code compliance, structural analysis, and cost estimating.

Two Civil Engineering students worked on water treatment and water quality projects. One worked with the York Water Company to devise a process for removing phosphates from source water before it hits the drinking supply. Another monitored water quality for several ponds and a creek on the Millbourne Estate, assessing the influent of nutrients from runoff sources. The goal is for the Estate to appropriately adjust its algal treatment processes.

THE GUNTER-SMITH CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Since establishing a physical presence in downtown York, York College has become an anchor institution for the local community while providing its faculty and students with a wide range of experiential learning opportunities. Under the leadership of President Pamela Gunter-Smith, York College’s two venues in downtown York have promoted collaboration and partnership between the College and the community and demonstrated the mutual benefit that comes from a truly community-engaged College.

The Gunter-Smith Center for Community Engagement building, located at 59 East Market Street in downtown York, has fostered connections between York College and the community at large. The CCE is also home to the Arthur J. Glatfelter Institute for Public Policy and provides a variety of spaces for York College classes, community meetings, and exhibitions that celebrate York’s increasingly diverse and vibrant downtown. The CCE partners with local organizations to host community events in both downtown venues. Key partners include York City Police Department’s Group Violence Intervention (GVI) network, social service and public health organizations, Better York, the Powder Mill and York County Community foundations, the Cultural Alliance of York County, the York County Economic Alliance, and governmental and nongovernmental organizations all around the York region. Through its Office of Service Initiatives, it has given hundreds of students the opportunity to learn and exercise

servant leadership, and through its Marketview Arts facility, it has brought together professional and student artists to participate in the cultural and economic life of York.

The Gunter-Smith Center for Community Engagement works with an advisory council composed of community leaders from various sectors to engage students in projects that bring mutual benefit.

COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING

Community-based Learning is both a high-impact educational practice and a way for the College to impact a positive future for the region. These CCE-supported courses engage students and faculty in shared problem-solving; connect them with organizations, businesses, and initiatives; and help students learn by applying classroom to community needs. Students have engaged in projects that support:

• Connection between the students, faculty, and academic resources of York College and the needs of the organizations, businesses, and initiatives in York;

• Trust in our healthcare system and a better understanding of all the social determinants of health, in partnership with Healthy York;

• A more vibrant arts community, in partnership with the Cultural Alliance of York County;

• A deeper understanding of the role of diverse populations in York County through its Community Conversations

programming, supported by the Powder Mill Foundation;

• Healthy interpersonal relationships and multicultural awareness in partnership with the YWCA;

• A wide range of courses across disciplines that support housing equity through the Urban Collaborative and in partnership with government and nongovernmental agencies; and

• Deeper understanding of the ways that past policy decisions have impacted the economic status of York’s population, and support for their future success through partnerships with the York County Economic Alliance and county and city government.

Courses and projects such as these have the dual benefit of addressing community needs and preparing students for their obligations as citizens and future leaders in the community.

THE GUNTER-SMITH CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

SPARTAN VOLUNTEER NETWORK

Launched in fall 2022, the Spartan Volunteer Network (SVN) connects York College students, educators, alumni, and local community partners with resources and opportunities for meaningful community-based service. SVN offers multiple pathways for volunteer engagement:

• The Spark Series involves shortterm, single-day, group-based volunteer opportunities.

• The Changemaker Series features partnerships between volunteers and local organizations that last for at least one semester.

• The Flex Series offers volunteer opportunities with flexible scheduling.

• The Compass Program equips and empowers YCP students as they lead various volunteer initiatives.

SIGNATURE INITIATIVES

The Spartan Volunteer Network features three signature initiatives: SpartanServe, SpartanGreen, and Generations of Hope.

• SpartanServe: Formerly Spartan Day of Service, SpartanServe is an annual two-day event that invites York College students, faculty, staff, and alumni to participate in short-term volunteer opportunities that benefit community-serving organizations throughout the York region. In fall 2022, SpartanServe engaged over 200 students in volunteer projects that benefited 27 local organizations.

• SpartanGreen: SpartanGreen is an annual one-day event that invites YCP students, faculty, staff, and alumni to participate in a variety of environment-focused volunteer events. This event was launched in spring 2022 through the efforts of Sarah Martin, an Eisenhart Community Scholar at York College.

• Generations of Hope: Generations of Hope (GOH) connects YCP student mentors with sixth-, seventh-, and eighthgrade students from Jackson and McKinley schools in York City. This program features team-based activities that promote career and education exploration, community engagement, inclusion and well-being, and life skills development. At its core, GOH is about developing and empowering new generations of community leaders and mentors.

70+ community partners

90+ short-term service opportunities

30+ ongoing partnerships

300+ student volunteers

2,200+ volunteer hours

$65,000+ economic value of volunteer hours

THE GUNTER-SMITH CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

trip to a Philadelphia museum, and in February 2022, she organized a Fine Art Market that gave students and alumni the opportunity to sell their artwork.

MARKETVIEW ARTS

Marketview Arts is the College’s creative hub for students, faculty, professional artists, and community members in downtown York. Through curated exhibitions and programs, Marketview Arts provides opportunities for York College students and community members to engage in conversations about social and global issues. The building also provides space for students to hone their craft and connect with the local arts community:

• Fine Art students have access to studios where they can work on their art and interact with professional artists.

• DelliCarpini Community Art Scholars, who are graduates of York County high schools selected for their artistic abilities and desire to serve the community, help to develop community activities at Marketview Arts.

• An Artist-in-Residence mentors students and organizes public events in which students can participate. In fall 2022, Artistin-Residence Jeannine Dabb ‘20 took students on a field

Each year, the Appell Arts Fellowship provides an opportunity for a graduate of the York College Fine Art or Graphic Design program to refine their artwork and develop lasting programming at Marketview Arts. Funded by a gift from Louis Appell Jr., and later supported by the Anne and Philip Glatfelter III Foundation in his memory, the program was designed to keep talented young artists in York—and it has done just that. For example, the inaugural Fellow, Rita Whitney ’10, is now Director of Communications and Engagement for the Cultural Alliance of York County, and 20192020 Fellow Amber Wiesberg ‘19 is Director of Education at Creative York.

Many of the exhibitions shown at Marketview Arts have had profound community impact. Below are a few notable examples.

• In October 2021, three members of the Indonesian artcollective Taring Padi arrived for a month-long residency at Marketview Arts. Taring Padi formed amidst the upheaval surrounding the fall of the repressive Suharto regime, and their work emphasizes the importance of collaboration and making solidarity, denouncing corruption, environmental exploitation, inequality, and neoimperialism while advocating for the poor and dispossessed. During their time in York, the artists lectured, performed music, gave printmaking and wayang kardus (cardboard

puppet) workshops, created new work, and installed large exhibitions both at Marketview Arts and the York College Galleries on campus. Nearly 150 students and community members attended events held in conjunction with Taring Padi’s visit and exhibition.

• From Jan. 6 to Feb. 23, 2023, Marketview Arts hosted the exhibition Thick Blue Line by Baltimore-based artist McKinley Wallace III. Wallace’s mixed media works tell stories of power manifested in resilient peoples, determined to resist erasure and break free of master narratives. Two events for students and community members were held during the run of the exhibition. The first was a Deliberative Dialogue organized by students to discuss themes present in the exhibition, and the second was a talk given by the artist himself. In total, the two events drew about 75 visitors to Marketview Arts.

20+ exhibitions/exhibits since July 2021

6 undergraduate classes since July 2021

30 students and professional artists have used studio spaces since July 2021

THE GUNTER-SMITH CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Breaking Barriers

Since establishing a physical presence downtown, the CCE has worked to support a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for historically underrepresented members of the York community. These efforts began by transforming the building, previously home to the exclusive Lafayette Club, into a space that intentionally welcomes and nurtures a more diverse set of leaders and potential leaders.

The CCE partners with local organizations and leaders to host community events, downtown and on campus, that educate, engage, and create space for dialogue around issues impacting our community. From August 2021 to May 2022, the CCE hosted an exhibition titled The Glass Ceiling, curated by local artist Ophelia Chambliss. The exhibition featured portraits, painted by local women artists, of 12 women in York who have “broken the glass ceiling” in their respective sphere/career. The exhibition featured written pieces and video interviews by glass ceiling breakers as well.

Other past events include a virtual panel discussion in March 2022 about the crisis in Ukraine and a webinar series in April 2022 about topics related to gender, both featuring subject-matter experts from the York College faculty

The CCE also engages with the local arts community by hosting a variety of community events at Marketview Arts. Between the summer of 2021 and spring of 2023, Marketview Arts:

• Participated in York Arts Week, a celebration of arts and culture in downtown York that involved 40+ events around the city;

• Hosted the What Do I Bring? exhibit, featuring photographs by first-generation college students about their experience, curated by local photographer Carla Long;

• Participated in the Susan Miller Make Music! Festival, a multivenue event that drew hundreds of visitors to downtown York to enjoy music and art-making activities; and

• Hosted the annual York Community Art Scholars Exhibition (YCASE), which features artwork by talented York-area high school students.

INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL HEALING

The Institute for Social Healing is a consortium of faculty and academic professionals across the Mid-Atlantic region with the mission of mobilizing the resources of higher education to promote research that supports social healing. Launched in 2019, the Institute aims to provide community members, advocacy organizations, service providers, and policy makers access to information to aid in their efforts to understand and prevent the root causes of trauma, explore pathways to support healing, and improve the teaching of these issues.

The Institute was formed by representatives from six universities in the Mid-Atlantic region, including York College. This group created an online database of about 200 resources related

to trauma-informed care, justice, and social healing, which is now accessible through an interactive hub on the Institute’s website.

Activities of the Institute for Social Healing have included:

Symposiums

In 2021 and 2022, the Institute for Social Healing in partnership with Lincoln University, Millersville University’s School of Social Work, and the Mid-Atlantic Council on Family Relations, partnered to host two virtual, cost-free symposiums on social healing. Mid-Atlantic Council on Family Relations has representatives from the following universities: Messiah University, Pennsylvania State University, Towson University, Wilmington University, and York College of Pennsylvania.

• 2021 1st Annual Symposium for Social Healing - 70 attendees and over 15 presentations

• 2022 2nd Annual Symposium for Social Healingapproximately 150 attendees and over 23 presentations

• 2023 3rd annual Symposium for Social Healing - 172 registrants, 110 unique attendees, 17 presentations, 22 presenters

THE GUNTER-SMITH CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Invited Webinars, Training, and Presentations

The Institute for Social Healing has developed and facilitated workshops and trainings on trauma, healing, and leadership for five nonprofit organizations and presented research at five regional and national conferences.

• October 2022: Two-hour training on community engagement developed and presented for the New Jersey Childcare Resource Subsidy Project

• October 2022: Two-hour training on compassion fatigue and burnout prevention developed and presented for the New Jersey Childcare Resource Subsidy Project

• August 2022: Presentation on trauma-informed leadership in developmental disability services presented the Reinventing Quality Conference, Baltimore, MD

• March 2022: 12-hour training on trauma-informed leadership developed and facilitated for the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities

• March 2022: Keynote speech on trauma-informed leadership for the Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities

Research, Publications, and Curriculum Development

The Institute for Social Healing is currently beginning research on a content analysis of traumainformed care training and research on the impact of web-based trauma-informed care training on pre-teachers’ compassion for self and others. Between 2019 and 2023, the Institute for Social Healing has been involved in developing curriculum on mental health and people with developmental disabilities, organizational adoption of trauma-informed care, and courses related to trauma-informed care at York College. Some accomplishments in research, publication, and curriculum development include:

• Rich, A. J., DiGregorio, N., & Strassle, C. (2021;2020;). Trauma-informed care in the context of intellectual and developmental disability

services: Perceptions of service providers. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 25(4), 603-618.

https://doi.org/10.1177/ 1744629520918086

• August 2019: Creation of online modules on depression and posttraumatic stress disorder for the Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Training Center.

• 2022: York College Academic Programs approved the course “Trauma-Informed Care” to be offered starting fall of 2023.

• The Institute for Social Healing helps to facilitate HSV320 Victim and Survivor Advocacy, which is jointly taught by faculty and staff from the Victims Assistance Center through the YWCA and has led to over 100 YCP students completing their 72-hour domestic violence and sexual assault survivor advocacy training.

GRAHAM CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION

The Graham Center for Collaborative Innovation (GCCI) is more than a place—it is a concept that is meant to drive innovation at York College. Working alongside the five schools of the College, its General Education program, and its administrative and cocurricular units, it resources the research and development of innovations for York College. It is defined by an entrepreneurial spirit—taking measured risks, valuing new ideas, and supporting collaborative activities.

Faculty and students from all disciplines will collaborate with each other and local business leaders in the GCCI’s Knowledge Park as they take on the latest business challenges in environments that allow for the sharing of knowledge, the development of new ideas, and mutual respect for the relationship between the educational and business sectors.

The GCCI’s Knowledge Park also provides a state-of-theart facility that brings together the intellectual capital of the College with the local business community. It provides opportunities for our faculty and students to work with anchor businesses, blurring the line between town and gown to the benefit of all. It will also help York College to work with local business leaders toward educational methods for York College students that nurture the skills that will make them successful in the work place.

A CULTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP: GRAHAM COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION FELLOWS AND HONORS COMMUNITY

York College’s focus on experiential learning is also at the heart of our unique Honors programming.

The Graham Collaborative Innovation Fellows, the first of our suite of individuated programs for highly motivated students, was launched as the Graham Innovation Scholars program in 2015. Across the years, it has developed an entrepreneurial spirit among students from a wide range of majors. Supported by a gift from the Graham Foundation and drawing upon the knowledge of one of York’s most successful entrepreneurs, Don Graham, the program has helped students to “design extraordinary lives” and impact the community. Our fellows have been supported as they:

• Started a business, like Tim Dexter who opened his own Parkour gymnasium before he even graduated;

• Gone on to post-graduate education (Ph.D. programs in Engineering and Mathematics, medical school, etc.);

• Completed internships and coops with NASA, the Philadelphia Naval Yard, top accounting firms like KPMG;

• Traveled to destinations all around the globe on projectbased trips and semesters abroad; and

• Completed special certifications and trainings to advance their career in schools such as NYU and Harvard.

The Graham Fellows has since become the model for a number of other programs, all based on this mix of personal motivation and community involvement. Every fall, first-year students in the Scholars programs take a seminar that introduces them to innovation techniques through humancentered design. Over the years, this project-based course has impacted important community efforts at York’s Central Market, the York Food Bank, the Goodridge Freedom Center, the York Rail Trail, the historic Lebanon Cemetery, and the Appell Center for the Performing Arts. In 2020, these students developed prototypes to enhance the College’s Marketview Arts building in downtown York by increasing visitor engagement, developing new programming, renovating the first floor, and increasing entrepreneurship opportunities for local artists. Those suggestions led to much of the work now being instituted to make Marketview a hub of artsbased entrepreneurship.

The Honors Community has also developed its Student Academic Innovation Lab (SAIL). This group is adding a student voice to innovations in teaching and learning. They have engaged faculty in collaborative work aimed at assuring that the education we offer students is in keeping with their future goals and the ways twenty-first century students learn best. They have also developed a student-run business called Unbound. Unbound, whose tag phrase is “restoring natural genius,” has worked with faculty on campus as well as with several community organizations to teach and use human-centered design (Design Thinking) as part of their work.

A CULTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

J.D. BROWN CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship at York College is a hub of entrepreneurial activity and resources for students from all majors and community members seeking to start and accelerate businesses.

The Center contributes to the greater entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing resources and outreach programs designed to educate and inspire participants to pursue their dreams of creating jobs for themselves and others. The Center is also home to a business incubator, a collaborative on-campus facility connecting incubator client companies with York College’s academic resources and the skills and talents of faculty experts and students. These resources are leveraged to provide community members with the knowledge, mentorship, and networks they need to begin and grow early-stage ventures.

WEINSTOCK STUDENT VENTURE INVESTMENT FUND

The Weinstock Venture Investment Fund (WVIF), founded and funded by York College alumnus Norm Weinstock ’58, is specifically designed to help York College students and recent alumni take their business from idea to implementation. Through funding, education, mentorship, and access to angel investors, students receive the resources they need to think like an entrepreneur and make their business a reality, all while enrolled at York College.

The WVIF has engaged in four rounds of student funding, providing three students and two

recent alumni of York College with seed capital, as well as mentorship after receiving funding to help them further grow and develop their businesses.

MCNEES ACCELERATOR AT YCP

The McNees Accelerator at YCP offers aspiring entrepreneurs the experience, guidance, and supplemental funding necessary to launch a successful business. With education and mentorship, participants are able to formulate a framework and system of thinking to effectively start and grow their businesses.

The eight-week program consists of weekly, two-hour sessions with both faculty experts and real-world practitioners, and is facilitated by Dr. Gerry Patnode, who serves as a Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship faculty member at York College. Participants also have the opportunity for additional mentorship throughout the week to address their specific concerns and needs.

The program culminates with participants delivering a 10-minute presentation that gives them a taste of what it is like to give a business pitch. They pitch their idea before a panel of local experts and entrepreneurs for a chance to earn up to $5,000 in funding. Since the program began, 29 businesses from both York College and the community have participated in the program.

J.D. BROWN CENTER INCUBATOR

The Business Incubator within the J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship serves as the epicenter of entrepreneurship and innovation at York College. Incubated client companies enjoy a variety of benefits including:

• Office space in a collaborative, state-of-the-art work environment in the Kings Mill Depot.

• A direct connection to the intellectual resources of the College, including faculty expertise and student interns.

• Access to mentorship and expertise from the Ben Franklin Technology Partners’ Executive in Residence.

28 companies incubated

100+ interns gained experience with tenant companies

45+ full- and part-time jobs created by incubator companies

A CULTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

SPARTAN STARTUP

Launched in 2018, Spartan Startup brings together York College students, alumni, community members, and industry professionals of all backgrounds to create something from the ground up and learn what it takes to found a company. During the three-day event, participants form teams, develop an idea, conduct market research, talk to customers, create a prototype, and pitch to real investors. Spartan Startup is a collaboration among the J.D. Brown Center, The GunterSmith Center for Community Engagement, and the Graham School of Business.

HENRY D. SCHMIDT LECTURE SERIES

Henry D. Schmidt Lecture Series in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is designed to offer insight into the creative process and drive of the entrepreneur; to stimulate discussion about the connection between a comprehensive, liberal arts education and entrepreneurship; and to empower (or inspire) our students, alumni, and community members to follow their own path toward creativity, innovation, and self-employment. Speakers have included highprofile individuals such as Anne Beiler of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, successful York College alumnus Dale Carey ’85, and student entrepreneurs.

YCP HACKS

YCP Hacks is York College of Pennsylvania’s annual student-run hackathon. Student developers, designers, and entrepreneurs from across the world come together for 36 hours to create innovative

applications, hardware, and programs. During the event, these passionate problem-solvers are given access to a wide variety of tools and technology, participate in lectures and workshops, and interface with local industry for mentorship and guidance. The event culminates with participants pitching their creations for a chance at a numerous prizes, ranging from money, to tech, to opportunities with local businesses.

YCP Hacks has held six events, with over 600 individuals participating from eight states and three countries. With past sponsors including Google Cloud, BD, Johnson Controls, and Penn Waste, over $13,000 in prizes have been awarded.

KNOWLEDGE PARK @ YCP Where High-Impact Learning Meets Real-World Innovation

In today’s highly competitive knowledge economy, institutions that understand the importance of cultivating partnerships between higher education, industry, and community partners are at the leading edge of problem-solving and innovation.

The Knowledge Park @ YCP will provide a place for our campus community where high-impact learning will be activated, while also accelerating our region’s economic development. As York College evolves, we know our community will continue to grow alongside us. Whether we’re providing a high-knowledge business with a place to call home or helping a student discover a passion for their future career, the Knowledge Park will create

transformational opportunities. Progress doesn’t come naturally. It’s built. And with this new revitalization project, we’re building something that will develop a lasting legacy for our students, our partners, and all of York County.

Helping Businesses Grow

The Knowledge Park will provide space-for-rent in a state-of-the-art facility that honors and reflects local history. The original building served York County for over 200 years as the Schmidt & Ault Paper Company. Now, renovations will provide businesses, organizations, and other industry partners with the opportunity to find a home among our Spartan family and participate in innovative partnerships with our campus community.

• Offices for Rent

• Collaborative Shared Spaces

• Convenient Location in the Heart of York County

• Connection to Student Talent and Faculty Consulting

YCP PROMISE / YCCOSP

YCP PROMISE

As a way to positively impact York County’s future, York College of Pennsylvania is offering a relatively new program called the York College Promise. The YCP Promise is an investment in young, local residents as a way to increase access to college for those who might otherwise struggle to finance a college education. Specifically, the YCP Promise provides eligible high school graduates from York County high schools with the opportunity to attend college tuition-free as part of a cohort who will live and learn together on campus. Scholars will also receive personalized support and mentorship through academic advising, tutoring, and on-campus job opportunities. As part of the program, scholars also give back through participation in community service and programming that benefits their communities.

Participants in the YCP Promise program will help to maximize the economic impact by contributing to a well-educated workforce in York County. This program is motivated by the belief that young

members of the York community will help create and ultimately lead a stronger York County.

The YCP Promise program was launched in fall 2021 with an initial cohort of 36 scholars; the College welcomed a second cohort of 38 scholars in fall 2022.

YCCOSP

Founded by The Graham Companies in 1989, the York College Community Scholarship Program (YCCOSP) provides promising William Penn Senior High School scholars the opportunity to attend York College regardless of financial circumstances, assists them with career and leadership development, and promotes civic responsibility in their home community.

At the high-school level, YCCOSP focuses on preparing scholars to navigate a higher-education setting. For college scholars, the focus of the program shifts to professional and career development. The scholars participate in networking events and seminars on internships,

job search skills, job shadowing, career selection, and interview and résumé techniques. A Community Advisory Board helps build partnerships and provides potential internships and career opportunities. The ultimate goal is to place each scholar in a meaningful, field-related employment opportunity in their home community after graduation.

At both the collegiate and high school levels, in addition to their educational commitments, scholars are expected to participate in service learning and community engagement activities designed to help them become active, engaged citizens and make a lasting, positive impact on the community.

$1.3 million

given by donors in support of YCCOSP since the program’s inception

$800,000+ per year invested in the program

13 high school students, on average, selected for the program each year

300+ students have participated in the program to date