Miami University Hamilton has engaged its students and resources in community service through programs like STAYcation and Hamilton Helping Hands. An AmeriCorps VISTA member coordinated partnerships between the university and local organizations to address poverty in Butler County. Initiatives like alternative spring break and a service honor roll program have enhanced civic engagement on campus and provided volunteers to community partners. The success of initial efforts indicates opportunities to further involve students in service and strengthen university-community collaboration.

1. Engaging campuses in service to the community
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2010-2011: Miami University Hamilton
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.
Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Community Partnerships
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Miami University Hamilton is a thriving For more information contact:
regional campus located in Southwest Ohio. This VISTA Corps member: Jessica Toglia
commuter campus serves many student populations. (513) 785-3280 • togliajm@muohio.edu
Of the approximate 5,000 enrolled students, almost Site Supervisor: Jennifer O’Brien
30% are non-traditional aged. The campus is viewed (513) 785-1892 • obrienjc@muohio.edu
as an asset in Butler County where the poverty level is Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
about 12%. This year, Miami University Hamilton has Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lesha.farias@gmail.com
been awarded the Community Engagement www.ohiocampuscompact.org
classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching. This classification
acknowledges significant commitment to and
demonstration of community engagement and speaks
volumes for the strides made so far as Miami Hamilton
continues to strive towards institutionalizing
community engagement. The ultimate goal is to
create a campus and community climate that fosters
civic engagement and commitment to service.
STAYCATION 2011
The mission of the STAYcation program is to
immerse interested and motivated Miami University
Hamilton students during the week of Spring Break
into the surrounding community. Students who
participated learned about issues related to poverty,
joblessness, and classism in Butler County while
serving in local agencies. They also developed
leadership skills and met community leaders to build
partnerships.
“This experience, I believe, broke through stereotypes Jessica Toglia, OCC AmeriCorp*VISTA, packs a
while building passion and understanding for those in need box for the Commodity Supplemental Food
so that connections are made and the joy of serving those Program. Sponsored by Shared Harvest
in need can transfer to future service.”--- Wendy Fenner- Foodbank, this is a federally funded nutrition
Aubin, Miami University Hamilton student and program that provides a monthly allotment of 35
2011STAYcation participant pounds of nutritious supplemental food for
“It was everything I could have hoped for; the experience... persons over age 60 who reside in Butler,
filled me in ways that I didn’t know possible.”--- Donial Warren or Preble counties. During the week of
Curry, Miami University Hamilton student and STAYcation, MUH volunteers packed 400 boxes
2011STAYcation participant of food.

2. COMMUNITY IMPACT
Miami University Hamilton was awarded its first Ohio Campus
The VISTA Impact
Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA in the 2009-2010 academic school year. by the numbers:
The partnerships forged during that year continue with VISTA Jessica
Toglia’s work in partnerships, volunteerism, and community STAYcation March 2011
development.
Student Participants: 8
Starting in November of 2010 through a contact with a
university professor, Toglia created a partnership with the Salvation Community Partners: 15
Army. MUH students, faculty, and staff helped to serve the
Total Direct Service Hours 85
community lunch every Friday for the rest of the academic school
year. This program was aptly named Hamilton Helping Hands, and by Approximate Value of $2,500
the end of the school year, MUH had sent 100 volunteers for over 200 Community In-Kind
hours of direct service. Donations:
Another main accomplishment this year was the successful Hamilton Helping Hands
week of STAYcation. This program brought together 15 community
partners and eight students for a great impact on the community. We
2010-2011
also had two newspaper articles written about the program and Academic School Year
hosted a well attended public presentation to community members Total Number of Volunteers: 100
and partnering agencies about the impact and learning experiences of Total Direct Service Hours: 200
the week.
Service Honor Roll
CAMPUS IMPACT 2010-2011
Miami University Hamilton has a traditionally low volunteer Academic School Year
rate due to a majority of students working full time for pay outside of Students 5
the home. Time is a barrier to volunteering for many MUH students.
One of the first big events this year was the 4th Annual Volunteer Fair Total Direct Service Hours: 268
in the 2010 Fall semester. This event allowed students, faculty, and
staff to talk to representatives from various community agencies and About Ohio Campus Compact
learn about service and volunteer opportunities. It was designed for
attendees to be able to explore different agencies. The goal was to AmeriCorps*VISTA
also build long-term mutual partnerships while helping contribute to Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
the development of our community. We had 22 total community coalition of colleges and university presidents and
partners attend. their campuses working to promote the civic
A new program Toglia initiated this school year was the purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
Service Honor Roll. The Center for Civic Engagement wanted to Compact provides resources, services &
reward and recognize the students for service they do in their partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
community. Students filled out the service hours form and reflected ability to educate students for civic and social
on their volunteer experience, then, similar to the Dean’s List, responsibility and to improve community life.
students could make Service Honor Roll with a minimum number of
community service hours. The Bronze level is 25-49 hours, the Silver AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
level is 50-99 hours, and the Gold level is 100+ hours in an academic designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
school year. This was the first year of the program’s existence, and Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
we honored five students at the annual awards banquet in May. incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front
lines in the fight against poverty in America for
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE: more than 40 years.
The success of the Service Honor Roll in its first year suggests
that this program could continue to grow and be helpful in creating a The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
culture of volunteerism on the Miami Hamilton campus. Additionally, VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
students who are already doing community work can now be publicly create and expand programs designed to bring
recognized for their commitment. The STAYcation alternative spring individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
break program has also been demonstrated to be a powerful and serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
transformative experience for all involved. This will be an opportunity tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
each year to continue to cultivate community connections as well as homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
foster a life-long appreciation of service for the student participants. services, public health and college access. More
information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org