December 6, 2002

Loyola hosts gathering of academic leaders from across Louisiana

University presidents discuss benefits of joining national Campus Compact

by Angela R. Anthony, Assistant Director of Public Affairs

The concept is not new anymore. It is now even being referred to as a national trend. Thus, the gathering did not provide a forum for a sales pitch as most of the college presidents, chancellors and other academic leaders in the room could have stood and made presentations themselves about the benefits of service learning, and community and civic education. The meeting hosted and chaired by University President Bernard Knoth, S. J., provided the opportunity for Louisiana public and private, two and four year college/university presidents and other administrators to consider the benefits of coordinating service learning and civic education efforts under Campus Compact, an umbrella organization. The organization is a national coalition of college and university presidents committed to the civic purposes of higher education. Knoth noted in his opening remarks that he hoped the meeting would help "strengthen civic-minded characteristics at the universities and move them into a very organized forum."

Campus Compact, which began in 1985, supports the civic mission of higher education, promotes community service that develops students' citizenship skills and values, encourages collaborative partnerships between campuses and communities, and assists faculty who seek to integrate public and community engagement into their teaching and research.

To accomplish the organization's goals, representatives from Campus Compact meet with colleges and university leaders from across a particular state. At these gatherings, such as the one held November 21 in the Danna Center, representatives try to gauge the academic leaders' interest in forming a state Campus Compact. As Brook Beaird, associate director of Campus Compact, said, "We do not promote the idea of Campus Compact in states. We respond to those who want state-level organization. The presidents were invited to the meeting," said Beaird, "because their individual role is pivotal to their institution's success. Campus Compact is a presidential organization. At those institutions where presidents have not been involved, the program has not worked well," he stressed.

If educational leaders agree to form a statewide affiliate of Campus Compact, the benefits are numerous, according to Beaird. For example, the umbrella organization would provide monetary contributions, knowledgeable staff at the national headquarters with whom colleges could consult, and proven strategies for getting colleges from Point A to Point B.

So far, 28 states in the country have established state Campus Compacts. The organization has a growing membership of over 760 public and private, two and four-year institutions. Each state organization is responsible for annual membership dues that are paid to the national Campus Compact office. The amount of dues varies by state.

National service learning proponent addresses attendees

Dr. Edward Zlotkowski, an enthusiastic service-learning proponent, also addressed the group. Zlotkowski is a Campus Compact senior faculty fellow, a professor of English at Bentley College, and a senior associate at the American Association for Higher Education. He is a national speaker and a dynamic orator who has spoken on Loyola's campus several times over the past few years. In his address, Zlotkowski laid out the values of and national trends in service learning, including the U.S. News and World Report ranking of colleges and universities that, for the first time, considered service learning as an indicator of teaching and learning excellence.

Zlotkowski stressed that higher education has moved from "talking about things to doing things to recognizing the value of what needs to be done." While the standard skills of literacy, numeracy, and communications are essential, "more and more institutions appreciate that the bedrock job of educating students cannot be done solely through pedagogical methods," Zlotkowski emphasized. "Unless there is a plan of experiential workplace incorporated into learning, learning is severely limited."

Zlotkowsi also highlighted briefly last year's business scandal as one reason for a more comprehensive education. "The traditional way we have gone about educating students is not succeeding by just injecting ethics courses into the curriculum," he offered. "Through service learning, students discover what it means to work in a democracy with skills, with readiness. They learn how to work with each other across differences."

Where do the academies go from here

At the conclusion of the meeting, several academic leaders expressed a strong interest in forming a state Campus Compact. Five institutionsDillard, LSU, Loyola, Nunez, and Tulaneare currently institutional members of Campus Compact. As the next step in this initiative, Knoth will contact college/university presidents to ascertain their interest and commitment to forming a Louisiana Campus Compact. Service learning directors working with the chief academic officers of those institutions will meet in the spring 2003 semester to develop the organizational plan, which will be reviewed, modified, and approved by the chief executive officers.