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: College Access
Kent State University provides college access For more information contact:
through its 8 campuses located around northeastern VISTA Corps member: Nichelle Shuck
Ohio including: Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, 740-225-3272 • nshuck@kent.edu
Kent, Salem, Stark, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas. First Site Supervisor: Dr. Tina L. Kandakai
generational college students can be referred to as (330)-672-8723 • tkandaka@kent.edu
students who are the first in their families to attend Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
an institution of higher education. Nearly 17% of Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lesha.farias@gmail.com
Kent State University students are considered to be www.ohiocampuscompact.org
first generational college students and this can be
seen across all Kent State University campuses: The 2011 Kent State University
• KSU- AC: 20% (452)out of 2,221 undergraduate students FACE Fellowship Program
• KSU-EL: 16% (161) out of 1,036 undergraduate students
• KSU-GC: 24% (325) out of 1,350 undergraduate students
• KSU-KC: 12% (2,527) out of 20,470 undergraduate
students
KSU SL: 21% (324)out of 1,581 undergraduate students
•
• KSU ST: 26% (1,105) out of 4,261 undergraduate students
• KSU TR : 29% (705)out of 2,444 undergraduate students
• KSU TU: 19% (467)of 2,508 undergraduate students
Through Kent State University’s Partnership with
Ohio Campus Compact, in spring of 2011 KSU
became a sponsor of a Midwest Campus Compact
Citizen Scholar program called, Future Advocates of
Civic Engagement (FACE). The M3C Fellowship
Program is a 10-state effort, administrated by the
Wisconsin Campus Compact. The M3C Fellowship (Nichelle Shuck, OCC AmeriCorps* VISTA picture with FACE Fellows: Jamie
Program is conceptualized as a scholarship program Rom, Nick Novisky, Sarah Keister, , Bree’Ana Melick, Allison Lotter, Emily
to support predominantly low-income and/or first Vernon (not pictured), and FACE Peer-mentors Erin Sherrets Nichele Scott.)
generation college students who have demonstrated
academic abilities while maintaining involvement and “Community
service
can
make
the
world
of
difference
passion for community building through service and in
this
economy.
There
are
so
many
of
our
neighbors
civic engagement activities. The program is based on
research which demonstrates that two keys to that
are
struggling
to
get
by
on
a
daily
bases
and
if
successful matriculation through college are: a) the there
were
people
willing
to
give
some
of
their
time
to
development of a peer network, and b) that students do
some
little
things,
it
would
make
this
world
a
must feel and be actively involved in campus better
place.”
activities and/or the local community (Astin, 1993;
Astin, 1996, and Astin & Sax, 1998). Jamie Rom, Junior FACE Fellow

2. COMMUNITY IMPACT
The VISTA Impact
More than half of the FACE Fellows connected their service with a by the numbers:
course through the Plus-1 Experiential Learning Credit option during 2010-­‐2011
the Spring 2011 semester. Within this first semester together the Future
Advocates
of
Civic
Engagement
FACE Fellows have dedicated hundreds of hours of service to a M3C/FACE
Fellows:
6
handful of community partners. Those FACE Fellows who attached
M3C/FACE Peer-Mentors: 2
their service experience with the Experiential Learning Plus-1 credit
served agencies such as: Laurel Lake, Calico Day Care at County of Completed Service hours: 475hours/2400
Summit Developmental Disabilities Board, Akron-Canton Second Total AmeriCorps $8,259
Harvest Food Bank, Portage County Community Action Agency –Ohio Educational Awards:
Benefit Bank Tax Clinics, and the Kent Environmental Council. FACE Enrolled in Plus-1 Credit: 4
Fellows also served at Arts Alive, Springtime of Hope, Campus
Elementary School, and as Kent State University’s Conversation Estimated Economic Impact: $10,146
Partners. Four FACE Fellows served on two of the alternative spring **
One
hour
=
$21.36
(Independent
Sector,
2010)
break trips to Washington D.C. and Columbiana County.
“Experiential learning is important for KSU students because it
“Experiential learning is learning while
gives students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and doing a useful service. It is applying
apply what they are learning. Ultimately, this will lead to a more what you learn in the classroom to how
successful future with their career choice.” – Allison Lotter, Junior you live your life. It is important for KSU
FACE Fellow students to experience this because it is
a refreshing reminder that what you
As a result, FACE Fellows have and will continue to impact the learn is not just useful for quizzes, tests,
relationship between Kent State University and the community by or papers. These skills can be used in
creating an innovative and sustainable approach to serve the everyday life as well.”
community while educating other KSU faculty and students about the
importance of the experiential education. Nicolas Novisky- Sophomore FACE Fellow
CAMPUS IMPACT
FACE Fellows are dedicated to addressing community needs through About Ohio Campus Compact
course-based civic engagement and increasing exposure of social AmeriCorps*VISTA
issues. FACE Fellows meet bi-monthly to reflect about service and
specific social issues that they wish to address. Through the Plus-1 Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
Experiential Learning Credit, FACE Fellows are exposing their faculty coalition of colleges and university presidents and their
members to the benefits of incorporating experiential learning and campuses working to promote the civic purposes of
higher education. Ohio Campus Compact provides
civic engagement into their courses. FACE Fellows serve as
resources, services & partnerships to help Ohio
AmeriCorps members and will be required to complete their term of campuses deepen their ability to educate students for
service (300 hours) within one calendar year. Upon the completion civic and social responsibility and to improve
and certification of 300 hours of community service, each FACE Fellow community life.
will receive a $1,000 education award from the Corporation of
National and Community Service Trust Fund. AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: OPPORTUNITIES FOR incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
THE FUTURE programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in
The 2011 FACE Fellows will complete their year of service by Spring of 2012. the fight against poverty in America for more than 40
Due to federal budget cuts, it is not certain at this time if Wisconsin Campus years.
Compact will be able to offer funding for a 2012-2013 cohort. In order to
maintain success of the FACE Fellowship Program it is essential for Kent The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
State University to continue developing the FACE Fellowship program and VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
look into other ways to sustain the program through other university funding create and expand programs designed to bring
or by establishing it as an official student organization. There is significant individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
proof that first generation college students are located on all KSU campuses, serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
therefore if federal funding is available it would be in the university’s best tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
interest to consider reproducing the FACE Fellowship program on other KSU homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
campuses. This would help promote experiential learning across all campuses services, public health and college access. More
and assist with the integration of the ELR requirement beginning Fall 2012. information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org