The following are resources and partnerships that are available to help students make a difference in their community and beyond. Office of Campus Activities, Service, and Leadership The Office of Campus Activities, Service, and Leadership (CASL) is a group of student-centered educators committed to purposeful and inclusive opportunities that consistently challenge and support student success. We provide a framework for the development of life skills including effective planning and communication, dedication to diversity, enhanced creativity, clarification of personal values and ethical behavior, and increased confidence. Our goal is to empower students to become actively engaged citizens. CASL coordinates many of the community and civic engagement, service, and leadership programs available to students, including the WP LEADS Digital Badge Program. The website provides resources for students seeking opportunities to get involved. WP LEADS Digital Badge Program WP students can log their civic engagement and leadership activities throughout their academic career and earn recognition through the WP LEADS Digital Badge System. Students are automatically enrolled in the badge system when they enroll as a student and can start making progress towards their civic engagement badge during orientation – even before classes start! Click here to learn more about these and other badge opportunities. Alternate Spring Break Students at WP choose to devote part of their spring break to community service and civic engagement. For example, about 50 students spent three days during spring break working to improve facilities at the Newark YMCA’s Camp Linwood Macdonald; students also have the opportunity to enroll in academic courses that include a spring break service component. In spring 2016, students studied the impact of Hurricane Katrina and participated in a spring break service trip to New Orleans. Pioneer Leadership Institute Pioneer Leadership Institute (PLI) is an emerging leadership development program for First Year Students only. Founded on the social change model, first year students can complete the PLI digital badge requirements in the fall or spring semesters by attending the three workshops and participating in an on or off campus civic engagement activity. Upper class PLI Mentors and professional staff receive training to facilitate these interactive and educational sessions. Students who complete the PLI requirements are honored at a recognition ceremony and receive a certificate. Pioneer Service Ventures Pioneer Service Ventures is an extended orientation program that provides new students the opportunity to contribute to organizations in our community that fight hunger, provide education to low-income families, care for the elderly, and clean the environment. The day begins with a keynote speaker who sets the tone for the day of service. Students and staff then depart to several locations to perform service and then return to campus for reflection activities. Civic Engagement Week For the last two years, CASL has worked with various university departments and student organizations to host a Civic Engagement Week of activities in November. These activities typically occur during the week of Election Day and Veteran’s Day to highlight voting, civic activity and service to the community. MLK Day of Service MLK Day of Service occurs annually on MLK Day. Similar to Pioneer Service Ventures, students sign-up in advance to participate in this high-level civic engagement activity. Students depart to perform service at various locations, and then gather at one of the service sites for lunch and a keynote speaker focusing on the importance civic engagement. The day ends with a reflection activity to assess learning and community impact. American Democracy Project The American Democracy Project (ADP) is a multi-campus initiative that seeks to create intellectual and experiential civic engagement opportunities for undergraduates enrolled at public institutions of higher learning. The goal of the project is to produce graduates who understand and are committed to engaging in meaningful actions as democratic citizens. ADP is a project of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), The New York Times, and the Carnegie Foundation. Turbo Vote TurboVote is both a partnership and a tool that the American Democracy Project team at William Paterson University has incorporated into its programming to engage student voters. A web-based application, TurboVote links its users to voter registration services, as well as reminders and other useful information about upcoming local and national elections. WP also participates in National Study of Student Learning, Voting and Engagement, a nation-wide research project operating out of the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University. New Jersey Campus Compact Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents – representing some 6 million students – who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education. WP is a founding member of the New Jersey Campus Compact (NJCC) chapter. University faculty, staff and students attend and present each fall at the Eastern Region Campus Compact Conference where attendees share best practices for community and civic engagement at colleges and universities throughout the eastern U.S. United for Prevention in Passaic County Hosted at William Paterson University, United for Prevention in Passaic county (UPinPC) seeks to create environmental change relating to substance abuse by promoting awareness, communication, and support for all county residents. UPinPC works to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug abuse among the youth and adults of Passaic County by offering training, community education, sharing resources and encouraging collaboration among communities and agencies. The Paterson Metropolitan Region Research Center The Paterson Metropolitan Region Research Center seeks to promote a greater understanding of the history, importance, and contemporary relevance of the Paterson metropolitan area to North Jersey’s citizens. Its primary mission will be to provide opportunities for faculty and student research about the region. In addition to connecting students from relevant undergraduate and graduate programs with community-based research projects, the center also sponsors an annual conference as well as special events on campus and in the region. Federal Work Study Employment in the Community WP partners with and supports community service agencies through the Federal Work Study Program. Students who qualify for Federal Work Study may be employed by a wide range of non-profit community partners. This program also supports the America Reads Challenge, a tutoring program at local schools for children in grades K through 3.
