In early 2005, the Center embarked on a major new program in service-learning that anchors efforts to link the College to the community. The program is multi-dimensional, providing extensive training and support to CCNY faculty and students so that both can engage real community challenges in courses, research, and campus service projects.

2005-2007 Service-Learning Program Highlights

By the Numbers

• 17 faculty received a total of $34,000 in financial support and on-going technical assistance to incorporate service-learning into new or existing courses.
• 14 service-learning courses offered in Architecture, Community Health and Social Medicine, Education, History, Jewish Studies, Media Arts and Communications, Political Science and Psychology
• 282 graduate and undergraduate students engaged in service-learning projects at 22 private non-profit organizations and public institutions (schools, government agencies)
• 5,435 service hours provided by service-learning students and faculty
• 11 students received a total of $28,500 to design campus based service projects and to take on leadership roles in service-learning.
• $163,000 awarded from the Pennsylvania/New York Campus Compact Consortium (a sub-grantee of the National Corporation for Community Service) to create the Metro Area Network for Service Learning. 
• $22,000 awarded from AmeriCorps*VISTA to hire a full-time AmeriCorps*VISTA member to assist with service-learning, student leadership and civic engagement activities of the Center.                      

Projects

Below are just a few examples of the ways in which CCNY students have enhanced their understanding of course content while meeting critical community needs.

• Political science students compiled a report illustrating the inequitable distribution of city funds for parks and green spaces in low income communities.
• Architecture students worked with a local community development corporation and residents of Harlem to design and build a community garden.
• In partnership with the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention, students in a market research course created and conducted surveys and focus groups to determine barriers to cancer screening among African American and Latino men.
• Political science students provided family support and mentoring to recently arrived refugees from the Sudan and Liberia.
• Graduate students in the MA program in clinical pyschology designed and delivered workshops on stress and anger management to adjudicated youth.
• Music education students are teaching music to students in a public elementary school in Harlem
• Students in the Sophie Davis School of Community Health and Social medicine are  conducting a needs assessment at a number of community health clinics in order to gather information for the design and production of educational brochures or posters.  Final products are designed to provide underserved community members with information about preventions for common medical illnesses and diseases.
• Graduate students in the School of Education are providing academic tutoring to more than 75 youth in a community-based tutoring program in East Harlem.