The impetus for a senate committee came out of the process of completing the application for the Carnegie Foundation’s Classification for Community Engagement. Committee Chair, Jay VanderVeen, along with fellow members Krista Bailey and Kim McInerny, were all involved in the Carnegie Engaged Campus Task Force—the faculty committee that worked for three years to complete the Carnegie application. After this application was completed, denied, and feedback was given, it was apparent that there needed to be more significant support for community engagement on our campus. McInerny explained, “After the task force ended, we wanted to move that passion forward. We recognized there was still work to do.”
One charge of the committee is to create an infrastructure that supports IU South Bend’s engagement with its communities. VanderVeen explained, “We want to build a culture of community engagement on our campus. Once we have the mission statement in place, we want to build a Center of Community Engagement. That is the goal.” The committee is also responsible for making recommendations to the Campus Directions Committee on the community engagement aspects of the campus’ strategic plan. According to Bailey, “The Campus Directions Committee is in the process of revamping the strategic plan for the campus. We want to make sure that community engagement is an important goal and part of the Campus Strategic Plan and the mission.”
Unlike the Carnegie Engaged Campus Task Force, the Community Engagement Senate Committee will not disband after a set period of time. “Many faculty committees on campus are ad hoc, meaning they only meet for a specific purpose. Once that purpose is met, the committee usually disbands and doesn’t meet again,” VanderVeen explained. “Having an established senate committee leads to continuity and accountability.” The Committee is currently meeting to create goals for the next few years and to identify strategies for achieving those goals. According to VanderVeen, “We want to write a mission statement as a first step. We want to create a very simple, working definition of community engagement for our campus and community.” Krista Bailey also stated that “we want to see community engagement implemented and supported around all of campus. There are strong pockets now, but we would love to see community engagement widespread among all schools and disciplines.”
The creation of a Senate Committee on Community Engagement is an important step for institutionalizing community engagement and is a sign that the faculty are eager to deepen and expand the campus’ community engagement.
Members of the Committee:
Jay VanderVeen, Committee Chair, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Olubunmi Okanlami, College of Health Sciences
Jerin Burch, College of Health Sciences
Kim McInerney, School of the Arts
Kacey Clear, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Molly Monroe, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Krista Bailey, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Jason Resler, School of the Arts
Gail McGuire, Ex-Officio, Director of Community Engagement
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