1. Engaging campuses in service to the community
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report:
Kent State University
Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA strategically connects college resources with
communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards.
Campuses expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
HISTORY & BACKGROUND Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Experiential Learning and
As an eight-campus educational system, Kent State Civic Engagement (Ohio Benefit Bank, Homelessness &
University offers a broad array of academic Hunger issues, and Youth), and Bridges Out of Poverty.
programs to engage students in diverse learning For more information contact:
VISTA Corps member: Nichelle Shuck
environments, and educate students to think 740-225-3272 • nshuck@kent.edu
critically while attaining the knowledge and skills Site Supervisor: Dr. Tina L. Kandakai
necessary for responsible citizenship, and productive (330)-672-8723 • tkandaka@kent.edu
careers. Kent State is the second-largest university Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director: Lesha
in Ohio with an enrollment of 41,365 students in the Farias (740) 587-8571 • lesha.farias@gmail.com
8-campus system and 26,589 students at the main www.ohiocampuscompact.org
campus in Kent.
Kent State University has seven regional campuses
located around northeastern Ohio including:
Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark,
Trumbull, and Tuscarawas. Kent State University’s
main campus is the largest branch located in Portage
County. Even though Portage County is in the
midst of Northeastern Ohio’s urban centers,
Portage County has a poverty rate of 14.3% (Census
Bureau, 2009). Although the poverty needs are great
in all KSU communities it should be noted that half
of Kent State’s campuses are considered to be
located in Appalachia, Ohio. This includes KSU
branches located in the following counties:
Ashtabula, Columbiana, Trumbull and Tuscarawas
(The Appalachian Regional Commission, 2010). This “Without our Ohio Campus Compact VISTA this project
makes it clear that all Kent State University
would not be happening. Nichelle has helped me make
communities are in great needs.
contacts with the community, provided research,
Within the KSU mission statement; it states its goal presented in my class and also helped with making
to “engage in the world beyond our campuses.” In campus connections to bring this project to fruition.
April 2009, Kent State University opened The Office Without her motivation, desire and excitement, the
of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement amount of work that is needed for this service-learning
(OEECE) to support the KSU mission and engage project would have been too overwhelming for me to do
KSU students and faculty in addressing the needs of alone.” – Nikki Caswell, English Faculty
all KSU communities. In the past two years, Kent
State University has set the groundwork for
experiential learning and has shown to be an
institution devoted to community service and civic
engagement.

2. COMMUNITY IMPACT The VISTA Impact
To support Kent State University leadership in experiential learning, the Ohio by the numbers:
Campus Compact VISTA, Nichelle Shuck, worked with several service- 2010-­‐2011
learning classes that addressed specific poverty alleviation efforts such as: Experiential
Learning
Opportunities
Financial Literacy/Ohio Benefit Bank, Hunger & Homelessness, Youth Experiential
Learning
55
Outreach, Non-Profit capacity building, and CIRCLES Initiatives. Courses:
Engaged Students/Learners: 2,394
Through the support of dedicated faculty members, students received real-
world experiences that professionally prepared them to become active Engaged Faculty 47
citizens in the world beyond Kent State University. These courses challenge Total Hours Engaged: 35,115
students to learn about issues of poverty and provide service through direct
community service, community/campus-based research, program Community Partners: 58
development, and promotional materials.
Estimated Economic Impact: $750,056.40
CAMPUS IMPACT **
One
hour
=
$21.36
(Independent
Sector,
2010)
Kent State University has partnered with Ohio Campus Compact (OCC) to
address community needs by hosting ten OCC AmeriCorps* VISTA since
1998. In 2006, OCC VISTAs have been serving KSU to create a culture of
service on campus and in the community through experiential learning and
“Nichelle
Shuck,
has
been
civic engagement opportunities. Five OCC VISTAs have worked to build
capacity for the new Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement extremely
effective
in
connecting
(OEECE) which supports faculty and students to leverage campus resources the
Empower
Portage
program
into the community through experiential education. with
campus
resources
to
promote,
expand,
and
sustain
our
non-­‐profit
“OCC VISTAs have had an enormous impact on KSU’s being able to move program”
- Lauren Szymanski
forward its experiential learning agenda. They have helped to develop
Family & Community Services Inc.
positive working relationships with community partners and spark interest
with students and faculty. These relationships will provide outstanding
AmeriCorps VISTA serving Empower
avenues for KSU students to work with and give back to the surrounding Portage
communities. The experiential learning opportunities will have a substantial
impact as KSU’s eight campuses interact throughout Northeastern Ohio and
beyond. “- Dr. Stephane Booth, About Ohio Campus Compact
Associate Provost for Quality Initiatives and Curriculum
AmeriCorps*VISTA
In Fall of 2012, Kent State University will implement an Experiential Learning
Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
Requirement (ELR) that will require all Kent State students to complete an
coalition of colleges and university presidents and their
experiential learning experience during their academic tenure at KSU.
campuses working to promote the civic purposes of
higher education. Ohio Campus Compact provides
Through the support of Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTAs the resources, services & partnerships to help Ohio
infrastructure of the Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement campuses deepen their ability to educate students for
(OEECE) has been developed and will continue to meet the needs of the civic and social responsibility and to improve
students, faculty, and community. community life.
KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: OPPORTUNITIES FOR AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
THE FUTURE designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
Given the development of the ELR and the tough economic times it is clear Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
the experiential learning and civic engagement will be a great leverage of incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
campus resources that will help fight poverty in Kent State communities. The programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in
most crucial component of this initiative is strong relationships with campus the fight against poverty in America for more than 40
and community partners. It is imperative that these relationships are fully years.
developed to ensure complete success for students, faculty, and community
partners. It is important for the OEECE to orient community partners with The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
the breadth and depth of experiential learning and encourage deliberate VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
interactions between students, faculty and specific community partners. With create and expand programs designed to bring
the development of the ELR, both students and faculty will be searching for individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
these opportunities and it is important to invest time in developing strong serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
community partnerships and civic engagement opportunities that will benefit tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
all parties involved. homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
services, public health and college access. More
information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org