Education Commons^™

Answering The Question, "To What End?": Building A System Of Enterprise Data Measurement To Track And Assess Our Engagement With And Impact On Our Communities, Valerie Holton

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This was presented at the Florida Campus Compact held February 8-10, 2016.

Smarter, Better, Stronger Together: Working In Community-University Partnerships, Valerie Holton

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was facilitated by Valerie Holton at Florida Atlantic University on April 15, 2016.

A Neighborhood Team Approach To Strengthening University-Neighborhood Relations, Tito Luna

Division of Community Engagement Resources

At an urban university like Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), people and programs often blend into the cultural fabric of its surrounding neighborhoods. Opportunities and challenges inevitably arise. How can a university partner with contiguous communities to develop mutually-beneficial relationships? This presentation describes how a neighborhood outreach director works closely with neighborhoods, a neighborhood liaison group, university police and the City of Richmond. Learn how various university units came together to form the VCU Neighborhood Team.

The Role Of Partnerships In Achieving The Vision: Tracking And Assessing Community Engagement, Valerie Holton, Kathleen Shaw

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the Association for Institutional Research Forum in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 2, 2016.

Aspire Partner Report: Assessing The Impact Of Aspire From The Perspective Of Sustained Partners, Jennifer Jettner, Tessa Mckenzie

Division of Community Engagement Resources

The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the quality of ASPiRE's partnerships from the perspective of partners. In addition, this effort also gathered preliminary information about partners' perspectives on VCU as a whole and functioned as a pilot test to inform future efforts for collecting partner voice about VCU's partnerships across the university.

High Impact Practices (Hips) Assessment Model: 2015-2016 Pilot Mid-Year Report, Lynn E. Pelco, Janice Baab

Division of Community Engagement Resources

A systematic institutional assessment model was developed to investigate the impact of high impact educational practices (HIPs) on undergraduate student success at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). The proposed VCU HIPs Assessment Model provides a systematic framework for assessing the impact of high impact educational practices on VCU undergraduates. Recommendations for institutionalizing the VCU HIPs Assessment Model are made.

Smashing Silos: Community Engagement Maps - A Vivo Extension, Tessa Mckenzie, Audrey Trussell, Valerie Holton, Stephen Guilford, Jonathan Deshazo

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This poster was presented at the VIVO 2016 Conference in Denver, Colorado.

Community Engagement And Regional Impact: A Review Of Systematic Data Collection Mechanisms, Valerie Holton, Jennifer Jettner

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This report provides a summary of existing and developing enterprise data mechanisms that track and assess VCU's engagement with and impact on our communities.

Crafting And Enhancing Communications To Support Community-University Partnerships In Higher Education, Audrey Trussell

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was facilitated at the Coalition for Urban and Metropolitan Conference in Washington, D.C., in October 2016.

Enhancing Impact: Aligning University Engagement Efforts With Community Needs, Jennifer Early, Valerie Holton, Kevin Allison, Catherine Howard

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was delivered at the Coalition of Urban Metropolitan Universities Conference in Washington, D.C., in October 2016.

Academic Health Centers: Improving The Health Of Our Communities Through Community Engagement, Jennifer Early, Valerie Holton

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This conference proceeding was presented at the International Association for Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement held September 2016.

Getting To The Core Of Undergraduate Community-Engaged Research: A Case For Implementing Core Competencies In Ucenr, Tessa Mckenzie, Grant Wolfe, Herb Hill

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This conference proceeding was presented at the International Association on Service Learning and Community Engagement Conference held September 2016.

Into The Weeds: Using Institutional Data To Support Program Improvement Across The University, Lynn E. Pelco, Scott Oates, Erin Marie Burke Brown, Janice Baab, James Gahagan, Gokhan Yucel, Chris Rillstone

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the 2016 Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities Conference in Washington, D.C.

Incorporating Community Engagement Language Into Promotion And Tenure Policies: One University's Journey, Lynn E. Pelco

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the 2016 Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities Conference in Washington, D.C.

Professional Development For Community-Engaged Research And Teaching: An Integrated Model For Administrators, Instructors, Researchers And Community Partners, Lynn E. Pelco, Jennifer Early

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the 2016 Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities Conference in Washington, D.C.

Safety And Protection Of Minors: Developing Policy And Best Practices To Protect Youth On Campus, Catherine Howard, Christina Carter, Meghan Resler, Jaqueline Kniska

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the 2016 Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Conference in Washington, D.C.

A Racial Impact Analysis Of Hb 834/Sb 449: The Virginia Growth & Opportunity Act, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Chika Anyadike, Saajida Chohan, Ericka Hairston, Anita Yearwood

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Publications

GO Virginia is an economic development initiative that seeks to preempt the harsh effects of federal budget cuts on Virginia’s economy, which is overly dependent on public-sector jobs. It promotes private sector job growth and workforce development through the use of state-based grants to invest in regionally significant capital projects that call for collaboration between localities, businesses, and education. It is important to be intentional in pursuing GO Virginia’s goals, otherwise this legislation may only allocate grants to institutions, organizations, and localities that already have sizeable resources. A critical question rests on how to ensure that low-income and minority communities …

Hb 828: Tanf Eligibility; Drug-Related Felonies, Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Greg Hopkins, Carla Jackson, Rana Wilson, Ramunda Young

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Publications

House Bill 828 (HB828) was proposed in 2016 to remove the ban on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for individuals with felony-related drug convictions who are otherwise eligible to receive benefits. The TANF program is designed to help low income families achieve self-sufficiency. States receive block grants to design and operate programs that accomplish one of the purposes of the TANF program: 1) Provide assistance to needy families so children can be cared for in their own homes; 2) Reduce the dependency of parents by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; 3) Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock …

Empathy Activators: Teaching Tools For Enhancing Empathy Development In Service-Learning Classes, Robin Everhart, Katie Elliott, Lynn E. Pelco, Deborah Westin, Rowena Briones, Emily Peron

Division of Community Engagement Resources

On February 5, 2016, 25 educators from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the University of Richmond (UR) gathered in Richmond, Virginia, for an annual service-learning workshop. This year’s workshop featured Robin Everhart, PhD, VCU assistant professor of psychology, as keynote speaker. Jumpstarted by Everhart’s research on student empathy, workshop participants explored the concept of empathy and collaboratively developed strategies for integrating empathy into the service-learning experience. This document grows out of Everhart’s presentation and group discussions during that workshop and represents a collection of ideas generated.

So You Walk The Walk, But Do You Talk The Talk?: Crafting And Enhancing Communications To Support Community Engagement In Higher Education, Audrey Trussell

Division of Community Engagement Resources

With community engagement rapidly gaining prominence in higher education, more faculty and administrators are being tasked with communicating about community engagement activities. Communications must be developed to support the institution’s mission while remaining true to principles of mutually-beneficial partnerships. This session explored best practices for developing and implementing a university communications strategy for community engagement. This presentation was given at the Gulf South Summit in Savannah, Georgia on April 14, 2016.

Build It And They Will Come: Infrastructure To Support And Advance Community Engagement And Regional Impact, Valerie Holton

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was facilitated by Dr. Valerie Holton on April 16, 2016 at Florida Atlantic University.

Are Your Findings 'Finding' Their Way To The Community? A Faculty Learning Community Approach To Broad Dissemination, Jennifer Early, Valerie Holton

Division of Community Engagement Resources

Presented at the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement Conference on September 27, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Role Of Partnerships In Achieving The Vision: Tracking And Assessing Community Engagement, Valerie Holton, Kathleen Shaw

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the Virginia Association for Management Analysis and Planning in Richmond, Virginia on October 20, 2016.

Steam-H & Quality Programs, Alyssa King, Shekinah Mitchell

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This presentation was given at the 2016 Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time.

Empathy Activators: Strategies For Developing Empathy In Service-Learning Students, Katie Elliott, Robin Everhart, Lynn E. Pelco

Division of Community Engagement Resources

This poster presentation explores the link between service-learning and the development of student empathy. It will share the initial research results of a pilot study on student empathy, service-learning, and key ingredients for cultivating empathy. It also offers instructors concrete ideas for teaching tools that activate student empathy.

New Profile Of A Virginia High School Graduate: A Research Brief, David Naff

MERC Publications

Guided by recommendations from the Standards of Learning Innovation Committee - a group of educators, policymakers, and community members charged by the Virginia Secretary of Education with furthering PK-12 education in the Commonwealth - the Virginia General Assembly has recently passed legislation through House Bill 895 and Senate Bill 336 directing the Board of Education to redefine the “Profile of a Virginia Graduate.” The legislation indicates that beginning with the freshman class of 2018, students receiving a diploma in the state of Virginia must adhere to new graduation standards that include life skills that could potentially enhance the academic, civic, …

Citizen Journalist To Activist: The Language Behind Black Lives Matter, Valeriana Colon

Teaching and Learning Publications

This study explores the discourse surrounding an event in the social movement, Black Lives Matter_, to gain insights into how digital literacy practices influence and mediate participation in the 21st century civil rights movement for a new generation of activist. This study examines three points of engagement, (1) the experience of the event as it is initially interpreted and shared online, (2) the intermingling of consciousness through social media, and (3) the post social media interpretation and action. Data was collected from Twitter analyzed using discourse analysis.

Esl Student Perceptions Of Online Resources, Valeriana Colon

Teaching and Learning Publications

This study explores how ESL student perceptions guide their use of online resources, with the goal of helping teachers select meaningful resources. Data were collected using a combination of interview responses and computer-recorded online actions. An evaluation of three case studies of advanced adult English language learners were used to gain insights into student perceptions. The results indicated that the ESL students use Google and native language sites when researching online, at times alternating between English and their native language. However, they expressed a sense of shame when using native language sites, as one student stated that he felt he …

Event Planning And Promotion, Manika Avasthi

Great VCU Bike Race Book Faculty Reflections

Faculty reflection on VCU Great Bike Race Book course. Course

Description: Students will gain a basic understanding of the effective approaches to promote events to donors and sponsors.

Cycling Through History: Making An American Sport 1880-Present, Sarah Meacham

Great VCU Bike Race Book Faculty Reflections

Faculty reflection on VCU Great Bike Race Book course.

Course Description: Students will explore how cycling has changed over time.