Athens State University fulfills its community/public service functions through (1) the combined efforts of students, faculty, and staff serving in both professional and non-professional capacities, the (2) curricular service-learning opportunities available through the College of Business and the College of Education, and (3) the availability of campus resources for community use and events. The involvement of faculty, staff, and students in community service helps to ensure that the University’s commitment to service is fulfilled. Academic programs and organizations engaged in public service activities are discussed in detail in the narrative for Comprehensive Standard 3.4.2.
The University has identified performance indicators for its community/public service activities as reflected in the Institutional Effectiveness Matrix. Assessment of this function was decentralized until 2009-10, making it difficult to determine level of performance across the institution. To facilitate the collection of information regarding this function, the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, in coordination with academic and administrative organizations, consolidated assessment functions and has submitted the 2009-10 Annual Assessment Plan, which is officially in AMOS. Quantitative data results will be available at the end of the assessment cycle in September 2010. Preliminary data collected from faculty, staff and the Office of Student Activities demonstrates the University’s involvement in community service activities.
The following examples illustrate the type of community and public service activities conducted at Athens State University.
Curricular Service-Learning
Curricular service-learning integrates community service with teaching to enhance the learning experience and expose students to the benefits of personal growth, ethical values, and cooperative action. Since 2007, 1565 students have enrolled in service-learning courses, resulting in an estimated 59,345 hours of community service.
College of Business: The work performed by marketing majors in the community has earned public recognition for their impact on non-profit organizations, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Through comprehensive research on market conditions and opportunities, students have created marketing plans and promotional material used in community outreach and development campaigns for the following organizations and businesses: College of Education: Starting in 2008, entering education majors provide 40 hours of community service through three service-learning courses and other service-learning requirements. Students select service-learning projects for the particular course or requirement. Students use four major components of service learning that include preparation, action, reflection, and demonstration through direct action, indirect action, or advocacy.
Kappa Delta Pi is an education society engaged in a variety of community projects that involves not only local schools and students but also assist in initiatives of a wider scope. The organization conducts "Read-Ins" in the elementary schools and sponsor Black History Month activities for the community. At a national level, Kappa Delta Pi was actively involved in fundraising and food and clothing drives to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The Physical Education club teaches tennis to low income children, sponsors a variety of physical activity clinics, sponsored the campus Haunted House last year, has sponsored concerts on campus at various times, and worked with the Boys and Girls Clubs on special projects.
Community Activities of Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff professional contributions and volunteerism demonstrate the University’s commitment to community and public service. Some projects illustrate interdisciplinary collaboration among the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, and the College of Education. In addition to the service programs detailed in the narrative for Comprehensive Standard 3.4.2, the following examples are representative of the types of community programs that faculty and staff are involved with in counties throughout the state, including Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Dallas, and Lawrence counties.
Engagement with the community and K-12 education is a primary focus of the College of Education. College faculty members are highly involved in in-service activities in local school districts that provide professional expertise in a variety of curricular areas such as math, reading, and physical education.
The leadership abilities of faculty and staff have earned them membership in advisory boards, councils, and steering committees in a variety of organizations: National Professional Development Center on Inclusion, Limestone County Task Force, Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame, Departmental Liaison-National Children’s Advocacy Center, APICS (Association for Operations Management) Tennessee Valley Chapter Board of Directors, Athens City Board of Education, The Alabama Office of School Readiness-Advisory Council-Morgan County, Athens-Li
imestone Public Library, Lincoln-Bridgeforth Park, Limestone County Chamber of Commerce, Alabama College Association, and Lawrence County Schools Board, Alabama Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence.
Art faculty and staff work closely with community organizations promoting the work of local artists and with individual contributions such as artistic performances in local theater productions, producing commissioned works of art such as the Trail of Tears Bronze Memorial, contributing artistic design for the Art on the Square event, Athens-Limestone County Beautification, Athens Dogwood Festival, Athens Storytelling, and the Alabama Children’s Museum.
The University sponsors the Old Time Fiddlers Convention, known as the "Granddaddy of Mid-south Fiddlers Conventions" for its role in reviving the tradition of competition in old time music. Approximately, 15,000 people from more than 30 states attend each year.
The sense of community possessed by University faculty and staff is also evident through civic engagement through work with the following organizations: Chili Challenge Volunteer-Limestone Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, CASA of Limestone County, Birdie Thornton Center, Boys and Girls Club of Athens, Salvation Army, Math Tutoring K-5 for SAT and ARMT tests, Daughters of the American Revolution, IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Big Brothers Big Sisters-After School Tutoring, Meals on Wheels, Trade-Fair Marketplace, Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI), Partners Achieving Literacy (PAL), and Therapy Partners (providing therapy animals to those in need).
Community Activities of Student Organizations
Despite a student body that is primarily employed, carry family obligations, and takes many online courses, in 2008, student organizations sponsored 11 community-oriented events with the active participation of 251 students. Events involved a variety of areas relevant to the well-being of the community including culture, health, and family/social issues.
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