The ties between Illinois State University and the area community are explored in the findings of a new report.
Harriett Steinbach of the University’s Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CESL), will present the results from the Community Partner Survey Report at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, in the Circus Room of the Bone Student Center at Illinois State. The event is free and open to the public.
Conducted by CESL, the online survey gathered input from more than 50 area community organizations in fall of 2017. The goal was to gain an understanding of the relationships and experiences community organizations—primarily in Bloomington-Normal—have with Illinois State.
“This information is essential because CESL is responsible for growing and formalizing the institution’s service-learning practices, or how students learn through volunteering and being engaged in the community,” said Steinbach, who is assistant director of CESL. “Most organizations already have some kind of relationship with the University, and others are interested in creating one.”
Steinbach will also discuss how the results of the survey will help Illinois State advance a Civic Action Plan, which will include meeting community needs, increasing community involvement by students, and furthering institutions’ roles in collaborative problem solving.
Following the discussion of the survey results, Illinois State’s American Democracy Project will announce the winners of the annual Civic Engagement Awards at a 2:30 p.m. ceremony, also in the Circus Room.
The awards recognize people and organizations for their outstanding contributions to civic engagement. Those celebrated will include the Community Partner Award, as well as honors for University student organization, faculty, staff, student, and unit.
For additional information about the awards, contact the American Democracy Project at AmericanDemocracy@IllinoisState.edu. For more information on the study, contact Steinbach at (309) 438-1100.
