Guest Viewpoint: Binghamton U. Center for Civic Engagement is key connection to community
Each spring, thousands of college students across the country graduate and enter a new phase of life, starting careers and settling into communities. At Binghamton University, our goal is for all our students to graduate prepared for successful careers and to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Partnerships with our local community provide avenues to pursue this goal, as students intern, volunteer and connect their coursework in the greater Binghamton area. Through these experiences, students gain essential knowledge and skills as they apply their academic learning in a real-world setting.
Community engagement offers unique opportunities for students to learn and develop skills while contributing to strengthening local neighborhoods and organizations. At Binghamton, this work is a top priority. Across the University, students and faculty partner with local organizations to advance community goals and student development. These mutually beneficial partnerships occur through classes, student organizations, campus-sponsored programs, athletic teams, and more. Students and faculty in varied fields of study, from engineering to the arts to health sciences, have embraced this form of learning.
For students, these experiences enhance their academic learning, skill development and commitment to serving the local area. Students working with the community develop important skills in teamwork, collaboration and problem-solving. Academic concepts are brought to life, and students benefit from the added knowledge of local residents. Students may also discover a new passion and continue to serve their community even after graduation. For faculty, partnerships with external organizations provide opportunities to strengthen teaching practices and find new avenues for research. Community partners bring valuable knowledge and expertise, opening new lines of inquiry and shaping research that is relevant to the complex challenges facing our world. Nonprofits, school districts and others can benefit from the perspectives, skills and efforts of students and faculty, and campus collaborations can add capacity to advance projects and provide needed services.
For example, students in the digital and data studies program partnered with the Broome County Food Council to analyze data on barriers to food access. This project allowed students to practice analytical skills while contributing to an important local cause. Hundreds of Binghamton University students volunteer and intern in local schools each year, serving as tutors, mentors and more. Students share that their experiences strengthen their communication skills and their ability to work with others. For schools, college volunteers bring unique abilities to connect with youth and shape their academic success. In engineering, faculty and students work with industry partners on applied research that develops solutions to real-world problems.
Binghamton University has a number of resources to advance this work. Through the Center for Civic Engagement, students explore volunteer opportunities, faculty receive support to bring community connections into their classes, and area partners connect with University resources.
As part of the University’s commitment to community engagement, Binghamton is applying for the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, which recognizes campuses that have made this work central to their mission.
To learn more about community engagement at Binghamton, reach out to the Center for Civic Engagement.
Alison Twang is the Director of the Binghamton University Center for Civic Engagement.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton U. Center for Civic Engagement is key connection to community
