PASSING THE TORCH: CULTIVATING STUDENT PROFESSIONALS TO GUIDE THE COMMUNITY

BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE

ALIE SARHANIS • COMMUNITY COORDINATOR • CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT • ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY

ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY QUICK FACTS

Photo credit: Communications Office, St. Lawrence University & Tara Freeman, St. Lawrence University Photographer

ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Staff Director of Community Partnerships

Full time/12 months

Specialist: Events & Logistics Coordinator Full time/12 months

Community Coordinator Part time/10 months

CBL Faculty Associate Stipend

Opportunities Community Based Learning (CBL) Center for Civic Engagement Housing Community Mentor Program

COMMUNITY MENTOR PROGRAM

BACKGROUND

Bringing Theory to Practice Proposal: Engaged Learning, Student Mental Health, and Civic Development Demonstration Program (April 2005)

“The rationale behind the CM program is to empower students to identify problems and develop programs in collaboration with community partners, faculty, staff, and fellow students.”

“As a result, with leadership from the CMs, the Center will build on several existing partnerships with community organizations, as well as support the creation and development of new programs within the community.”

Source: AACU Proposal by Susan M. Pankey & Ron Flores, 2005

MISSION

“To develop the capacity of student leaders to become agents of positive social change at St. Lawrence and beyond. By serving as ambassadors of

the Center for Civic Engagement, Community Mentors (CMs) foster and guide the overall experience of course-based students involved in a number

of campus-community partnerships. In doing so, CMs strengthen and maintain the relationship between St. Lawrence University and the local

community. Community Mentors enhance both their leadership and professional development by participating in various workshops, trainings,

and conference opportunities.”

RESPONSIBILITIES

Work with local agencies to coordinate community-University partnerships

Train and support fellow students placed in Community Based Learning engagement activities

Serve as ambassadors for the Center by spreading the word about what we do across campus

Raise money through fundraising events

STRUCTURE

Structure Paid position

Hourly wage = $8.30 $14,000 allotted to payroll Payroll hours vary, average of 3-4 hours/week

Application process Vision Statement (250 word essay) Resume Transcript Two recommendations SLU Faculty/Staff Community Member

Interview

TRAINING

Training CM Training at start of each semester

10am-3pm Morning = job-specific training Afternoon = team building

Utilize returning CMs to train new CMs

SUPERVISION

Meet with supervisor (30 minutes every other week) Group staff meeting (45 minutes every other week)

Alie (Food Access &

Agriculture)

Brenda (Education & Social

Services)

Julie (Publicity & Events)

1. Bubacarr • Bittersweet Farm

2. Elise: • Campus Kitchens • GardenShare • LittleGrasse

3. Bridget • Cornell Cooperative

Ext. • Birdsfoot Farm

4. Katie • Free Will Meal

Program

1. Kaleigh • Canton Central School

2. Rachel • Cyber Seniors, • Partridge Knoll

3. Anna • Boys & Girls Club

4. Michaela • St. Mary’s School, • Potsdam Central

School 5. Rose

• NYSARC

1. Sam • Events & Logistics

2. Raquell • Newsletter • School Newspaper

3. Kayse • Social Media

4. Lexie • Campus Outreach

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Leadership Seminars (Fall) Your Story of Service Building Effective Relationships Motivating Yourself & Others MBTI Assessment

Professional Development Workshops (Spring) Transition Binders Resumes and Cover Letters Interviewing & Service Careers Networking & LinkedIn CM Alumni Panel

Opportunities to attend workshops and conferences

BENEFITS

CBL Students Encouraged by their peers to engage

Community Mentors Gain marketable skills Cultivate strong connections to community

partners/local agencies

Faculty Alleviate pressure of tracking students

Staff Increase capacity of small staff More effective publicity and marketing

Community Partners Receive more attention & communication

“Being a CM taught me to time manage and stay

organized.” –Katie Lloyd ’17

“This semester, being a part of the CBL, I have learned a lot more about the local community.

Knowing the community gives me a great appreciation for my experience at SLU and

makes me so much happier here.” –Michaela Osborn ’18

‘Working as a CM made me realize I want to

work with non-profits as a career in the environmental field.”

–Elise Haan ’18

“I’ve learned what I am passionate about and how to express it.” –Rose Green ’18

“I am now becoming to feel like a leader! It has been a journey for me to believe in myself and

not doubt my strengths. I am proud of this feeling.”

–Bubacarr Fofana ’18

“I’ve learned to work with professionals.” –Sam Taillon ’18

CHALLENGES

Challenges Time

Lack of full-time staff to manage the program Some CMs require more supervision than others Finding a time that everyone is available to meet

Money Limited budget for bonding activities and conferences

Turnover Study abroad Graduation

Diversity Historically all female, or mostly female staff

A L I E S A R H A N I S S T . L A W R E N C E U N I V E R S I T Y ’ S

C E N T E R F O R C I V I C E N G A G E M E N T A S A R H A N I S @ S T L A W U . E D U

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Questions?

SOURCES

Pankey, S. M. and Flores, R. (2005). Bringing Theory to Practice Proposal: Engaged Learning, Student Mental Health, and Civic Development Demonstration Program. AACU Proposal.

Kleiman, M. (1999). Hire Tough Manage Easy: How to find and hire the best hourly employees. Houston, TX: Humetrics.

Center for Civic Engagement. (2016). Retrieved May 12, 2016, from http://www.stlawu.edu/center-civic-engagement.