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Civic and Community Engagement Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Civic and Community Engagement

A Civic Engagement Agenda For Caribbean Higher Education, Glenn A. Bowen Phd Jan 2013

A Civic Engagement Agenda For Caribbean Higher Education, Glenn A. Bowen Phd

Glenn A Bowen PhD

Civic engagement programs have become prevalent in higher education in many regions of the world. Interest in engagement has increased at a time when Caribbean countries are strengthening the regional integration movement in response to the demands of globalization. Based on a cross-national assessment, this article describes the manifestations of civic engagement in Caribbean universities and proposes an agenda for institutionalizing the practice. The civic engagement agenda is applicable to higher education institutions elsewhere.


Fostering College Students' Civic Commitment Through Alternative Breaks, Glenn A. Bowen Phd Jan 2013

Fostering College Students' Civic Commitment Through Alternative Breaks, Glenn A. Bowen Phd

Glenn A Bowen PhD

Higher education institutions in the United States sponsor alternative breaks to give students an opportunity to assist underserved communities during spring and fall/winter breaks. As students address social issues during alternative breaks, many are likely to commit themselves to long-term involvement in community service. This article is based on research conducted at a public, comprehensive university in Western North Carolina. Case study methods were used to explore the learning/development outcomes of the university's alternative break program and the influence of alternative break experiences on students' continued involvement in civic activities. The research revealed that, despite the limitations of short-term service …


The Conscientious Gringo, Ryan Alaniz Jan 2013

The Conscientious Gringo, Ryan Alaniz

Ryan C. Alaniz

Many Americans only have a week or two to serve internationally. They fundraise, learn about the country they are visiting, and then work hard building houses, installing wells, or sharing the gospel abroad. This handbook is a practical guide to help these short-term volunteers get the most out of their service experience while also enabling them to avoid assumptions about those they are serving. By drawing on social science theory and pedagogy, and real life experiences of dozens of volunteers engaged in social change--from poor urban schools in the U.S. to the border of Swaziland to a large orphanage in …