Innovative Partnerships & Creative Activities

Safe Walking Routes in Pullman

Service-learning is an important and impactful compenent of computer science courses. Service-learning challenges students to apply what they are learning in the classroom to address community identified goals, provides students with valuable professional development opportunities, and promotes the understanding of ethical and long-term societal implications of their work. A team of students in Software Design Project I and II (CPT_S 421 and 423) taught by Ananth Jillepalli, assistant professor in Computer Science, partnered with the Pullman 2040 and College Hill Assocation to develop a website to improve and support safe walking routes on College Hill and throughout the community. Over the academic year, the team has been meeting every other week to review the plans for the project, devleop potential solutions to new challenges, monitor progress, and provide input feedback. Ananth supports service-learning in computer science courses and seeks multiple community-based organizations to work with his capstone course each year. Ananth stated, "Computer science projects can make students feel like they are disconnected from society. Service-learning projects inculcates a sense of belonging to overcome the feeling of disconnection since these projects usually address a societal need and produce products that will be used by people in their lives."

Allison Munch-Rotolo, College Hill Association Co-Chair, and Mayor Francis Benjamin, former Co-Chair of Pullman 2040, stated, "Prior to working together on this joint-partnership course, we've both participated several times previously in service-learning courses. We appreciate the fres hideas and perspectives and the focused attention to issues that a service-learning course partnership brings. We have had a positive experience working with our capstone team, and we remain committed to the goal of improving and supporting safe walking routes in Pullman. Along the way, we've learned a lot - and our team has too. As of our last meeting, our team had completed the programming to provide all the functionality that was originally intended. Going forward, we are seeking to partner with other courses to develop alternate means of achieving the same goal. Perhaps a series of focus groups run by a marketing course, or another means could give us information needed to identify and fund pedestrian safety improvements." The team is writing a second project proposal that would build on the team's progress and allow a subsequent team to set the app up on a secure server in the upcoming academic year. 

ORAP & CCE Partnership

In fall 2023, the CCE formed a nascent partnership with the Office of Research Advancements and Partnerships (ORAP) to promote community engagement as a viable and significant form of research at WSU. To date, CCE staff have developed and facilitated workshops for WSU faculty on the “Foundations of Community Engagement” and “Authentic and Reciprocal Partnerships”. CCE staff have also worked closely with ORAP staff to develop curriculum for Inspire, a Community Engaged Research Cohort group of faculty, and served as reviewers for community engaged research grant proposals.

Cougar Food Pantry Data Analysis

Androu D. Luzader, a third-year undergraduate student, and Caroline E. Owens, an assistant professor in Anthropology, examined data from the Cougar Food Pantry. Their findings were featured at SURCA. The Cougar Food Pantry, operated by the CCE, provides free food and basic need items to Pullman undergraduate and graduate students experiencing food insecurity. It is one of the few food insecurity interventions available for students at WSU. The pantry stocks non-perishable staples that allow students to create nutritious, filling meals and snacks.

Between 2022 and 2024, the pantry was visited over 27,000 times. Some students use the pantry more frequently than others, with higher utilization among Graduate-Professional students and those from lower-income and minoritized backgrounds. However, the pantry currently serves only about 10% of students projected to experience food insecurity at WSU (40%). This suggests that some students likely have unmet food and nutritional needs. Moving forward, the research team plans to examine the prevalence of food insecurity on campus, assess the accuracy of existing measures for this unique population group, and increase public awareness of the pantry.

Equitable Student Success

LAUNCH + Service-Learning

In the spring of 2022, the leaders of the LAUNCH program and the CCE developed a pilot model for student success by combining the strengths of two established and successful experiential learning initiatives. As reported in the WSU Insider, both programs promote the benefits of experiential learning, specifically service-learning, and high-impact learning practices for undergraduate students. This partnership is an outcome of the Teaching and Learning Collaborative Workgroup from the Office of the Provost.

A total of 1,387 students in Introductory Psychology (PSYCH 105), Introduction to Human Development (H_D 200), and the LAUNCH Ambassadors were required to participate in one service-learning project with support from the CCE. The students were also required to participate in one LAUNCH peer-led workshop or complete an alternative writing assignment. This initiative launched in fall 2023 and continued through the spring 2024 semester.

When students were asked what the most valuable part of the program was for them, a few stated:

Adopt-a-School

The Adopt-a-School program is a new service-learning course partnership among four local elementary schools, WSU ROAR, and 103 Learning and Development 301 students. This program offers WSU students considering careers in education a meaningful opportunity to learn about today's classrooms, build relationships with teachers and students, experience the school environment, and observe the needs of diverse K-12 students.

Stephanie Bray, principal of Franklin Elementary School, said WSU students have been open to assisting with various programs at Franklin, including the Fox Den program with the school counselor and reading and math across all grade levels. The teachers at Franklin Elementary have appreciated the support in their classrooms. Pam Brantner, principal at Sunnyside Elementary, said, “It has been wonderful to have the WSU students through the Adopt-a-School program support teachers in our building. They have been able to support in many curricular areas. Both WSU students and Sunnyside students are making connections, with the young students stepping outside their comfort zone to read, write, and do math. The WSU students have also shared with the younger students how important it is to work on their academics.”

WSU students who participate in service-learning experience growth in personal, academic, and professional leadership development, develop a sense of civic responsibility, and have a deeper commitment to social justice. This is not a practicum experience but rather an opportunity for WSU students to help each school meet its goals. The tasks students help with are customized to the individual goals and activities of each school. For example, students could assist with modeling and encouraging positive behavior, leading activities, one-on-one and small group tutoring, engaging in small group social-emotional activities, and prepping materials.

Leadership & Global Service-Learning

Global Campus Coug Leadership Program

Jessica Perone facilitated a three-part Servant Leadership and Community Engagement workshop with global students in the Global Campus Coug Leadership Program in November 2023. First, the students participated in an interactive workshop to discuss servant leadership and how this model supports the growth and well-being of people and communities. After the initial workshop, the students were encouraged to engage in a community service opportunity in their hometowns.

The group reconvened in January for a follow-up reflection workshop to discuss their recent community engagement experiences, leadership development, and personal growth. They reported that their community engagement experiences were meaningful and highly impactful. The opportunity to practice their leadership skills through community engagement was an exciting new addition to the program.

Due to the positive feedback from the students, Haley Yamane, Student Organizations & Leadership Coordinator, is planning to add a community engagement component to the Global Campus Coug Leadership programming moving forward.

GivePulse Link for Global Campus Students

It is now even easier for Global students to participate in remote community service activities! Students can find all the remote/virtual community service options by simply clicking on one link on the WSU Global page on GivePulse. Events are regularly added to this group page, so students are encouraged to check the link regularly for new projects.

Whitney Ojeda

Whitney Ojeda participated in service-learning in H_D 403, Families in Poverty, taught by Mary Garcia during the fall 2023 semester. Throughout the class, Whitney completed 15 hours of service-learning at her daughter’s elementary school with the Parent Teacher Association. Whitney stated,

Campus & Community Engagement

This past semester, 2,312 WSU students volunteered for 14,613 hours with over 100 organizations across Washington state and even around the world. This is a testament to the commitment of our partner organizations who welcome WSU students into their spaces and work. We cannot thank you enough for your partnership and the work you do with us.

Community Partner Announcement – Keep an Eye Out!

The Service-Learning Course Project Interest form was sent out the week of April 22nd. We are planning our Fall Course Project offerings and would love to connect you with WSU Faculty to work on a project in partnership over the fall semester. Please reach out if you have any questions or ideas!

Throughout May, the CCE will be circulating a Community Partnerships survey. We conduct this survey every two years to gather your feedback and conduct a routine health assessment of our partnerships. The information you provide helps us improve our programming and the way we work with community organizations. We greatly appreciate your participation in this survey.

For Palouse-Area Partners, on June 12th from 8:30-10:30 am, the CCE, in collaboration with the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and the Nonprofit Association of Washington, will be hosting the Nonprofit Coffee Chat. Stay tuned for more details and information.

Allison Munch-Rotolo, co-chair of the College Hill Association, and Terry Buffington, of the Terry Buffington Foundation, won a Woman* of Distinction Award in the Community Partnership category from the Presidents Commission on the Status of Women. They are recognized for their leadership and public service, contributions to the local community, dedication to the personal growth and success of others, and creating positive social change.

The Humane Society of the Palouse won a Chancellor's Award for Leadership. As an organization, HSOP instills values of empathy, ethics, leadership, compassion, and teamwork in WSU students. HSOP helps students become active members of society who promote social change by providing opportunities to work with and care for animals at the humane society. Students help animals through various tasks and by socializing with them until they find their forever homes.

White Spring Ranch won a Chancellor's Award for Leadership. White Spring Ranch values historic exposure and change, showcasing history through collected resources that allow WSU students to read about historical changes through letters and newspapers. White Spring Ranch helps students explore different possibilities and opportunities for social change.

Engagement News & Awards

All past issues of The Engaged Scholar can be found on our website.

The most recent issue of the WSU Campus Connection can be found here.

Awards and Recognitions

• Ben Calabretta, Director of the Center for Civic Engagement, won the 2024 NASPA Student Affairs Partnering with Academic Affairs (SAPAA) Award. Ben earned this national award due to his commitment to innovative collaboration between academic and student affairs. He is a champion for student success and an active team member of multiple task forces, initiatives, programs, search committees, and program committees throughout the institution.

• Merri Lecoq, Coordinator of the Cougar Food Pantry, won an APAC Contribution Award in recognition of her exceptional dedication to ensuring students can meet their basic needs. This award also recognizes her exemplary productivity, innovative problem-solving, positive working relationships, and university and community service.

• Hongtao Dang, assistant professor in the School of Design and Construction, won a WSU Pullman Chancellor's Award for Leadership. Hongtao has been collaborating with the Center for Civic Engagement for over two years to integrate service-learning into Construction Management courses. He has included service-learning in two courses with a combined total of 127 students. Hongtao and his students have been working with Palouse Habitat for Humanity on a new home build in Moscow, ID.

• Mary Garcia, Human Development Global Campus instructor, won the Excellence in Online Teaching Award. She has been instructing online courses, and correspondence courses before that, for 24 years, teaching an estimated 6,000 students. Mary includes a service-learning component in the online Families in Poverty course (HD 403). She is very invested in the students’ success.

• Kara Whitman and twelve SOE 492 students participated in service-learning while studying abroad. The students engaged in restoration work at Tūhaitara Coastal Park in New Zealand.

• Brandon Cockburn, Community Projects Graduate Assistant, completed his Ph.D. in Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education. Brandon defended his dissertation, "Education and Equity: A Case Study of Educators at a Specialized Charter School," on April 4, 2024. We wish Brandon the best of luck in his next adventure and thank him for his hard work and dedication to the Center for Civic Engagement.

• Lilia Thompson, CCE Peer Mentor, won a Student Employee of the Year Award from the Academic Success and Career Center and the President’s Award for Leadership for WSU Pullman! Dave Jones, CCE Student Engagement Coordinator, nominated Lily and stated, “Lily is a delight, a truly authentic leader who has been incredibly welcoming and inclusive to all students while working at WSU. She embodies the best aspects of the WSU Greek Life system and has been instrumental in reminding Greek Life students of their ideals while also working to implement systems that allow them to live up to them. She has been a thoughtful, considerate voice consistently advancing equity, calling for diversity and inclusion for all in her work. Her commitment to community service stands out, even among other student employees at the CCE whose work explicitly is dedicated to working with community members to learn, identify, and advance the goals, objectives, and projects those in our communities have. Lily has taken part in numerous CCE-led projects and spearheaded her chapter’s adopt-a-block efforts to clean up the College Hill neighborhood. She not only participated in the program but was instrumental in ensuring others could participate too. She designed and presented to dozens of fraternity and sorority chapters each semester on the program as part of her role at WSU. It was an absolute joy to work with and learn from Lily.”

• Zach Martian, CCE Project Leader, won a 2024 Top 10 Senior Award. Amy Robbins, Meg Pannkuk, and Brandon Cockburn nominated Zach for this award. Amy Robbins stated, “I have had the pleasure of working with Zachary since November of 2022. It truly has been an absolute joy to watch his growth into the soon-to-be graduate of Washington State University and to think ahead to all the amazing things he will accomplish in his future. Zachary is both enthusiastic and committed to working with our local community, he can see the return on investment and has made lasting connections at all the projects he has participated in his three years with the Center for Civic Engagement.”

• Zach Sievers, CCE Project Leader, won a Student Employee of the Year Award from the Academic Success and Career Center. Amy Robbins, Meg Pannkuk, and Brandon Cockburn nominated Zach for this award. Amy Robbins stated, “During his tenure as a Project Leader over the past three years, he has shown his deep commitment to Service Leadership. He ensures that everyone around him is comfortable, engaged, and feels supported.” Michael Todd, Regional Theater of the Palouse, stated, “It is always a delight working with Zach. He is a talented, versatile, hardworking, enthusiastic, and positive volunteer leader. I could rely on Zach to keep everyone engaged with service tasks if I had to take a phone call, meet with a patron, or respond to an urgent email. The fact that he would genuinely serve and empower other volunteers to do the same was a huge service.”

• Amaris Cupples, WSU Global student, won the Undergraduate Woman of Distinction Award. She was nominated by Christie Kittle, Assistant Director of Learning Innovations and Director of Instructional Design and Operations within the WSU Global Campus Academic Outreach and Innovation. Amaris was recognized for her achievements and contributions to the academic and local community, and to our society. Amaris took a lead role for the Global Campus for the 2024 MLK Day Cougar Card event and won the Student Civic Leadership Award in 2023.

Projects and Initiatives

• The Riverside Mural project was installed in the fall of 2023. The project highlights the collaboration between Pullman Arts Foundation and Pullman Downtown Association. Joe Hedges, co-founder of the Pullman Arts Foundation, is a member of CCE’s Community Engaged Scholars.

• CCE builds community partners and reciprocity with researchers featured in the Daily Evergreen.

• Students design an outdoor story walk for Keller schools featured in the WSU Insider.

• The Institute for Teaching Social Action is accepting applications for the summer virtual cohort. The institute is free and designed to give faculty and staff the knowledge and tools to incorporate student-led social action campaigns by modifying a current course or co-curricular activity or developing a new one. Social action is a transformative experiential learning model where students in a college course launch their own campaign or join a community organization's campaign.

Community Engaged Research Journal Opportunities

The Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship (JCES) invites the submission of manuscripts that align with its mission: To provide a platform for faculty, staff, and students of academic institutions and their community partners to disseminate scholarly works from all academic disciplines.

Students' Reflections: Personal, Academic, and Professional Impact