| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.84 |
| Liaison | Natalie Sobrinski |
| Submission Date | June 6, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Muhlenberg College
EN-10: Community Partnerships
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Beth
Halpern Director Community Service & Civic Engagement |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
1st Partnership
Community Bike Works
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? :
Yes
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe?:
Multi-year or ongoing
Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus?:
The partnership supports at least one, but not all three, dimensions of sustainability
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (Yes, No, or Not Sure):
Yes
A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above:
Muhlenberg College has multiple supportive partnership including one with Community Bike Works in Allentown. We have worked with Bike Works since the organization's inception 20 years ago. The College collaborates with the organization in their flagship "Earn-a-Bike" 12 week program that teaches youth about bike mechanics and safety while encouraging work ethic. Upon completion of the program, kids earn their own bikes and helmets. Faculty have collaborated with the organization on research questions. Students have served as interns, developed collaborative programs with the kids and organization focused on health, reading/social justice and art, applied for grants to support our work, assisted with one-time events and led programming. Alumni have been hired as full-time staff members. Organizational representatives have served on search committees at the College and participated in other activities on campus. The partnership is mutually beneficial.
2nd Partnership
Partnership with Jefferson Elementary School
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (2nd partnership):
Yes
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (2nd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing
Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (2nd partnership):
The partnership simultaneously supports social equity and wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (2nd partnership) (Yes, No, or Not Sure):
Yes
A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above (2nd partnership):
Muhlenberg has partnered with Jefferson Elementary School for almost 25 years. Our relationship with the school ranges from before the school year starts through the annual field day Muhlenberg hosts. When budget cuts threatened to decrease art, physical education, library and music from the school curriculum, Muhlenberg students attended school board meetings to express their discontent. When the cuts were enacted, students sought to provide alternative programs so kids might still have access to the arts. All Jefferson Elementary School students come to campus on Field Day while some come when they’re selected as students of the month. Third, fourth and fifth grade students all come to the College for various experiences focused on grade-level goals including science and career exploration. College staff collaborate with school administrators and teachers to create, enact and evaluate these events. Regular, weekly engagement includes Muhlenberg students at the school every day of the week during or after-school. Bi-directional engagement allows for both Jefferson and Muhlenberg community members to regularly visit and co-create goals and opportunities, enhancing all our communities.
3rd Partnership
Costa Rica Partnerhsip
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Yes
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
Multi-year or ongoing
Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (3rd partnership):
The partnership simultaneously supports social equity and wellbeing, economic prosperity, and ecological health
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners in strategic planning, decision-making, implementation and review? (3rd partnership) (Yes, No, or Unknown):
Yes
A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability, including website URL (if available) and information to support each affirmative response above (3rd partnership):
For more than 15 years Muhlenberg College has partnered with a small community in Costa Rica called Las Juntas de Abangares. Each year for several weeks students and a couple faculty travel to Las Juntas to engage with local communities and participate in on-site research.” This is the Costa Rica course, which we also counted as one of our immersive experiences.
Optional Fields
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Rich Niesenbaum also contributed to the reporting of this credit.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.