News

University to Hold Inaugural Civic Engagement Day on October 22

The celebration is designed to raise awareness of the wide array of civic engagement activities underway on the William Paterson campus

A celebration designed to raise awareness of the wide array of civic engagement activities underway on the William Paterson campus will be held on October 22 as the University holds its inaugural Civic Engagement Day in the University Commons Ballroom.

The event, which will run from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., was organized by the Civic Engagement Strategic Planning Committee to showcase the integration of civic and community engagement experiences in the curriculum; to promote volunteer activities, both curricular and extracurricular, to students, faculty, and staff; and to encourage more members of the campus community to become involved.

The event will include a Community Partners Fair, featuring local non-profit organizations and agencies that provide civic and community engagement opportunities for students and faculty.  Lunch at 12:30 p.m. will feature a panel discussion by several students who have been involved with course-based or extracurricular service learning activities.

A panel discussion with faculty and staff at 2 p.m. will focus on successful course-based service learning and extracurricular community service activities; the discussion, which will be moderated by Glen Sherman, associate vice president and dean of students, will feature Maribel Rodriguez, associate director of campus life; Maria Kromidas, assistant professor of anthropology; and Saul Petersen, executive director, New Jersey Campus Compact. Throughout the event, a multimedia poster exhibition will be on display featuring distinctive examples of faculty achievements in University Core Curriculum courses from Area Five: Civic and Community Engagement.

The Civic Engagement Strategic Planning Committee, co-chaired by Professor Christine Kelly, professor of political science and director of the American Democracy Project, and Francisco Diaz, associate vice president for campus life. Members include Glen Sherman; Barbara Andrew, chair and professor of philosophy; Kathleen Korgen, professor of sociology; and Maggie Williams, professor of art and director of the University Core Curriculum.