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On the Job with the Community Engagement Center

What do people think you do?
Our previous name didn’t define what we did. However, with the new name of Community Engagement Center, and the work we have accomplished over the last couple of years, I believe people have begun to understand our work.

What do you really do?
We’re responsible for providing resources, referrals and connections for faculty, students and communities of the Sacramento region to participate in a variety of community engagement activities on and off campus. The programs we offer are: community service through our Alternative Break program, service learning, Writing Partners, the new One Book program and Students in Service. In addition, we provide support to other department programs such as Constitution Week, Campus Student Investigation, student/faculty orientations, etc.

Describe your office.
I have a staff of two and they’re the best. We have a very respectful environment and have fun by remembering to celebrate our accomplishments. Also, I think we all care about the quality and success of our programs. This includes our student assistants. We couldn’t accomplish the work we do without them. I don’t think most people on campus know where we’re at. We’re located in the Library, Room 4028, but there’s no signage outside of the library, so that contributes to our lack of visibility.

What surprises people about the Center?
Once faculty discover our programs, I think they’re very surprised at the depth and breadth of the resources we provide, such as risk management, especially in implementing a service learning course, and how we can assist them in being engaged in the community. Students, in general, are surprised at how rewarding experiences such as service learning and Alternative Break can be both academically and personally. And community members are surprised at the scope of work we do to build strong, sustainable relationships between faculty, students and the community partners.

What is your biggest challenge?
People knowing who we are and what we do, although that is beginning to change. For example, projects such as the Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai was an event co-hosted by the Community Engagement Center and the English Department. This year the new Wells Fargo One Book Program, also co-hosted by the Community Engagement Center and the English Department, will be launched. Both are examples of campus-wide events that will provide opportunities for staff, students, faculty and communities to become engaged in and off the campus, increasing the visibility and work of the center.

What do you get asked the most?
Faculty want to know what time and resources are required to integrate the pedagogy of service learning into their course, what resources or connections are needed to become engaged in the community, the possibilities of scholarship, and how to integrate this work into their RTP file. Community partners ask “how many students can you send us?” and students often want to know whether their engagement activities, such as service learning, are going on their transcripts.