The Center for Civic Engagement

2008 Faculty Course Development Grant Program!

Pictured left to right: 2007 Recipient Professor Richard Smith (Economics), 2007 Recipient Professor Vikki Gaskin-Butler (Psychology), 2008 Recipient Professor Joseph Dorsey (Environmental Science and Policy). Not pictured: 2008 Recipient Professor Jill McCracken (English)

The Center for Civic Engagement Faculty Course Development Grant Program is intended to encourage the integration of new civic engagement activities into the curriculum. The Center expects that the grants will (1) increase the number of courses with civic engagement components (2) support course assessment in terms of its community and student impact (3) increase student enrollment and interest in courses with civic engagement components.

These grants will provide resources to assist faculty members in their efforts to develop and to sustain experiential learning opportunities for students. Funding will provide stipends of up to $1,000 to assist faculty members from each of the three colleges to incorporate civic engagement components into the coursework. All full-time faculty on the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus are eligible for this grant. Please see the application for more information.

Congratulations to Spring 2008 Faculty Course Development grant winners Professors Jill McCracken (English) and Joseph Dorsey (Environmental Policy).

Professor Jill McCracken added a civic engagement component to ENC 1102 The Composition of Political Argument. It is a course in writing, reading, and analysis. Its purpose is to help students become stronger thinkers and communicators so that they can be a more effective members within the communities in which they participate. In our class, students will choose a current social issue that matters to them and about which there is much current discussion. Throughout the semester, they will conduct both traditional and creative research into their issue and then compose letters, opinion pieces, posters, documentary photography books, and a piece in the medium of their choosing to learn how to shape communication in different media for a variety of audiences. By the end of the semester they should be able to thoroughly analyze difficult texts, envision them within a larger contextual framework, and recognize their local and cultural significance.

Click here to view Professor McCracken's syllabus for this course.

Professor Joseph Dorsey added a civic engagement component to PUP 4203 Environmental Politics and Policy. This interdisciplinary course examines how environmental policy is influenced by politics. Students will determine how environmental problems are identified and how policy agendas are set. We will discuss the process of environmental policy formation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation. The course is designed to immerse the student in the historical context of the environmental movement while exposing the student to the dynamics of current policy issues and politics through inquiry based research and civic engagement.

Click here to view Professor Dorsey syllabus for this course.

USFSP Student Association of Citizen Scholars

&

USFSP Residence Hall One

CASA Clothing Drive

Fill These Boxes!

This event is ongoing from

April 23rd to May 13th

Drop box locations are Residence Hall One entrance, Davis Hall lobby, Poynter Library, and the College of Business lobby.

For more information, call the Center for Civic Engagement at 727-873-4773 email civicengage@stpt.usf.edu, or visit www.stpt.usf.edu/community.

Click here for the flyer.

Click here to view the USFSP e-news story.

Congratulations to the recipients of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement

Individual Student: Steven Lapinski

Pictured left to right: Regional Chancellor Karen White, Award recipient Steven Lapinski, CCE Founding Director Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan

The winner of the student award: STEVEN LAPINSKI. Steven is an outstanding example of USFSP's "citizen scholars." Enrolled in the Spring 2008 "Road to the White House" course, Lapinski logged hundreds of hours working on political campaigns since he left for his presidential campaign internship in New Hampshire in December. Upon his return from the Granite State, Lapinski remained active in his campaign, travelling to New Jersey for Super Tuesday. He was able to take what he learned on the presidenial campaign trail (about voter ID, targeting, etc.) and put that to use here in St. Pete managing the special election campaign of Charles McKenzie for House District 55. Steve Lapinski's story -- staying actively involved in the civic engagement component of the course long after the requirements end - is not unique. We have found that many, many of our students enrolled in citizen scholar courses continue their service to the community. Nevertheless, the selection committee wanted to honor STEVE LAPINSKI for his outstanding leadership and service, and for his exceptional ability to take what he had learned in his coursework and put that knowledge into practice in the community.

Student Organizations: Sigma Tau Delta and Student Business Organization

Pictured: Regional Chancellor Karen White with Sigma Tau Delta members

SIGMA TAU DELTA Under the leadership of President Kelley Hanamean and faculty advisor Dr. Frances Auld, SIGMA TAU DELTA was involved in more than a dozen service-oriented events over the past academic year. SIGMA TAU DELTA's Funky Fall Formal raised more than $800 for USFSP's community partner Habitat for Humanity. It came as no surprise when this event was awarded the Outstanding Program of the Year at the Student Affairs award ceremony. The CASA Toy Drive/Dickens reading perhaps best demonstrates the ways in which Sigma Tau Delta has been able to integrate service into its mission. As they indicated in their application "We always like to combine fostering academic curiosity with serving the community." Congratulations, SIGMA TAU DELTA, for being such an excellent example of the citizen scholar program at USFSP!

Pictured: Regional Chancellor Karen White with Student Business Organization (SBO) members

The STUDENT BUSINESS ORGANIZATION The STUDENT BUSINESS ORGANIATION, under the leadership of President JOHN WHITMER and advisor BARBRA HIGEL, planned and organized a fabulous event in support of USFSP's community partner PARC. Their event, "Art in the Parc," raised more than $5,000 for PARC - and - indeed - continues to raise funds. Artwork is still on display in the College of Business. Please contact Barb Higel at x34996 if you are interested in seeing the display/purchasing art.