What's Happening in the Office of Civic Engagement (OCE)
Happy New Year from the Office of Civic Engagement! We are all thankful for a Winter Break filled with rest, family and travel. Please check out and follow our new OCE LinkedIn account. This semester there are 20 CBL/CEL courses, 15 Engaged Scholars working on community projects, and 60+Community Service Federal Work Study Students. The team will dig more into the process of applying to receive Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, launch a Lunch & Learn series, and host our annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.
As we think about this semester, our team wanted to share what we’re reading and/or some things we’re looking forward to:
The spring semester brings excitement as we engage in annual programs such as Be Kind and Empty Bowls. This year, OCE is organizing a Poverty Simulation for the first time and is actively planning a training focused on population health and social determinants of health. Additionally, we are set to present at the Campus Compact24 conference alongside Susan Jordan, and we are in the process of submitting a session proposal for the ITGA conference in collaboration with some community partners. On a personal note, spring weather allows for more outdoor cycling and running! - Lynn Pierson
I’m reading The New College Classroom by Cathy N. Davidson and Christina Katopodis, to be ready for a Spring Learning Community being convened and facilitated by Jen Schneidman Partica. I’m excited to work more this semester with our Community Engaged Scholars and to arrange a few speakers to present at their class meetings. -Stacey Piecuch
I just started the book Preparing Students to Engage in Equitable Partnerships and am already finding so many gems and resources that will help support the work done in community-based-learning and community-engaged-learning courses. I can't wait to continue working with my student employees on researching and creating a Teaching Assistant model for CBL/CEL coursess! -Sarah E. Farbo
Hi all, I’m also reading The New College Classroom along with Stacey and Irene:) I’m looking forward to our Empty Bowls Event this coming March. I also can’t wait for the growing season to start again at the Lewisburg Community Garden and to cook that marvelous produce at the Community Harvest Meal Program. -Theresa Dollar
This semester, I get the chance to visit many different food programs in Union, Snyder, and Northumberland county. These programs have so much experience and wisdom to share, and I’m ready to listen and explore all the different ways a food program can look and operate. We’re also getting closer to Spring! The quiet of winter is lovely, but I’m waiting for the Lewisburg Community Garden and Bucknell Farm to wake up so I can stick my hands in the soil and plant! -Irene Hu
I am excited to be teaching UNIV 190 this semester. The class is fully enrolled and will be introducing our students to the theory and practice of ethical, culturally inflected community engagement. I will once again have the distinct pleasure of working with Reece Pauling ‘24 as my teaching assistant with whom I will also be continuing work at SCI Coal Township on the Flower Garden in conjunction with community partners in Shamokin. We are also thrilled that we have two concurrent Inside/Out classes being taught at both SCI Coal Township and Muncy for the first time. -Katie Faull
The number of students in the Community Service Federal Work-study program is back up to pre-pandemic levels and we create new partnerships with agencies each semester. I'm excited to chat with students and community partners to hear about these experiences! Additionally, I'm looking forward to the Lunch & Learn sessions that we're piloting this semester to showcase the collaborative community engagement that is happening. -Becky Rice
