1.
Engaging campuses in service to the community
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report:
University of Cincinnati’s Clermont College
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. Community partners receive critical support.
Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food Insecurity, public
HISTORY & BACKGROUND health issues, education/college access.
The University of Cincinnati’s Clermont College is For more information contact:
located on the eastern edge of Cincinnati making it a VISTA Corps member: Zachary Bartush
middle ground for various cultures (urban, suburban and
(513)-558-7441; zach.bartush@uc.edu
rural Appalachian). In this melting pot of cultures, 10.4%
Site Supervisor: Barbara Wallace
of Clermont County’s population lives below the federal
(513)-732-5279 ; Barbara.wallace@uc.edu
poverty line, according to data from the 2010 census.
Moreover, local community-based organizations face
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
state and federal funding cuts while being faced with an Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lesha.farias@gmail.com
enormous increase in the demand for their services. In www.ohiocampuscompact.org
2008, the Ford plant closed resulting in the loss of
around 1,700 jobs in the local community, further
exacerbating the load on community organizations.
UC Clermont College has responded to the needs in
Clermont County by hosting an Americorps VISTA from
the Ohio Campus Compact(OCC) from the Fall of 2008
until present. The OCC VISTA at UC Clermont has
worked to leverage campus resources into the
community through service learning courses and civic
engagement opportunities intended to help alleviate
poverty within the community and build the capacity of
community-based organizations.
“Zach has been a pleasure to work with. He
volunteered in our after-school Homework Room
and the kids loved having him here. He is easy to
work with and stayed in touch. He was very
successful in sending Service Learning students my Through the work of its OCC Americorps VISTA, Zach
way….I truly appreciate everything that Zach has Bartush, UC Clermont’s Service Learning initiative has
been able to connect students with community-based
done.” -Tina Lytle, Director of Residence
organizations in order to build their capacity to address
Services at Thomaston Woods Apartments issues of poverty. Additionally, he has worked to
advertise civic engagement opportunities throughout
the year for students who are part of a scholarship
COMMUNITY IMPACT program or involved with student organizations.
The impact of UC Clermont’s Service Learning & Civic Throughout the past year, service learning courses and
Engagement program over the past few years has been civic engagement opportunities have addressed issues of
immense! Through the work of the VISTAs, the service poverty in regards to hunger, public health and
learning program built relationships with a number of education.

2. different community partners and helped support the efforts of service
learning courses in multiple disciplines. The VISTA Impact
by the numbers(2010-2011):
Some examples of service learning and civic engagement efforts that have Civically Engaged Students: 429
impacted the community this last year are:
Total Hours Engaged: 4,611
• Community Garden
• Video for Habitat for Humanity Service Learning Faculty: 16
• Volunteer base for organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs
• Specialized public health presentations in after-school programs Service Learning Courses: 31
• Earth Day
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Partner Agencies: 26
• Fundraising/Philanthropy
Community Members Impacted(directly): 350
Through programs like those listed above, the community impact has
been significant. We have helped to build the capacity of local community- Value* of Community Engagement: $102, 990
based organizations to serve their constituents and worked to address
*One hour=$21.36 (Independent
these issues in novel ways. Furthermore, many of our students have
Sector, 2010)
become more active participants in the community as a result of the
experiences they have had.
“…awareness and action are two
CAMPUS IMPACT important keys to changing the
Service learning and civic engagement have not solely benefitted the world…The class has really armed me
community. UC Clermont has benefitted from these initiatives as well. with the tools and skills to become aware
According to The Service Learning Community Action Council Report, of issues in my own community and act to
students benefit by: end those issues ” –BRITTANY BRYANT,
• Gaining experience working outside of the classroom. WRITING, PHILANTHROPY AND STUDENT
• Developing professionally. ENGAGEMENT(ENG 289) STUDENT
• Feeling empowered by their ability to become change makers.
Faculty and staff benefit by:
• Seeing better learning outcomes among students who participate About Ohio Campus Compact
in service learning and civic engagement.
• Giving back to the local community.
AmeriCorps*VISTA
• Forming relationships with the local community. Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
Student life has seen an increase in involvement through civic engagement coalition of colleges and university presidents and
opportunities provided through the student service organization, SHOCK, their campuses working to promote the civic
and service learning opportunities. SHOCK engaged the community on purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
campus by spearheading events such as Breakfast with Santa (in Compact provides resources, services &
collaboration with other student orgs and Kim Ellison, Director of partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
Student Life) and raising funds. Additionally, they have remained involved ability to educate students for civic and social
in the Student Tribunal throughout the year and had a presence alongside responsibility and to improve community life.
other student organizations at major campus events such as the Earth Day
celebration and Fall Fest. AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: OPPORTUNITIES FOR Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
THE FUTURE
programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front
Given the current trying economic times and the impact that we have had,
lines in the fight against poverty in America for
it is obvious that the service learning and civic engagement efforts are
more than 40 years.
critical to fighting poverty in the local community and greatly benefit UC
Clermont itself. The most critical component of this initiative that has
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
made it so successful has been the relationships built between the campus VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
and community. Thus, it is imperative that these relationships are
create and expand programs designed to bring
maintained for the future of service learning and civic engagement at UC individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
Clermont. The best way to do so is to have a position created to lead and serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
sustain it. The position would serve as a point of contact between the tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
community and the college, troubleshoot issues that arise with service homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
learning courses or civic engagement events and pursue grant services, public health and college access. More
opportunities to enhance the work done in the community. With such a information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org
position, the community and the college could both continue to benefit
from the relationships formed and the work that is done.