New Hampshire Community College-Berlin is dedicated to promoting community service through service learning and extracurricular community service opportunities for the surrounding communities by partnering with local organizations and agencies. NHCC-Berlin is a participating member of Campus Compact for New Hampshire, part of a national network of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to advancing the integration of service learning, civic responsibility, and meaningful community collaboration throughout institutions of higher education.
Campus Compact was founded in 1985 with its first two state offices opening in 1988. Campus Compact for NH was founded in 1997 and is one of 32 participating state offices. The vision of Campus Compact for NH is to improve the quality of teaching and learning throughout NH's institutions of higher education, provide leadership opportunities that connect colleges with the communities they serve, and to promote citizenship by educating students for their roles as active community members. At your local community college here in Berlin, the vision of Campus Compact for NH is being fulfilled in many ways.
Sue-Ellen Dunn, Professor of Human Services, teaches an Introduction to Human Services class that is currently planning their annual Community Service Project. A needs assessment is being devised and will be implemented. Students will identify the needs of the Community, choose which need should be addressed, and develop and implement a plan. Proceeds from last year's project, a dance, helped stock local food pantries with non-perishable items.
Last year, the Student Senate was very active. They donated funds to the Androscoggin Valley Cancer Fund by serving coffee, hot chocolate and baked goods at the Haunted Hayride in Gorham last October. They also collected non-perishable items and donated $1,500 (which was matched by an anonymous donor for a total of $3000) to the local Food Pantry. The Student Senate also purchased five Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) to be placed in the local school areas. Donations were also made to the Salvation Army Toys for Teens Program, the Ecumenical Food Pantry at St. Kieran's, and for scholarships.
Deb Stewart, Professor of Teacher Preparation, won the New Hampshire Partners in Education Gold Circle School Partnership Award "in recognition of its exemplary educational partnership during the 2005-2006 academic year which was made possible through the collaborative efforts of school and community." This project partnered Deb's developing 'pre-service' teachers with teachers at Bartlett School in Berlin to serve as mentors.
Service learning and community service projects are an important part of higher education learning and civic responsibility. The above examples are just a few of what your local community college does to better serve the surrounding communities.
If you are someone who is looking to make a difference in your community, your local community college in Berlin is a good place to start. By providing service learning and community service opportunities, NHCC Berlin students, instructors, and the surrounding community members learn to work together to make the North County a better place for everyone.
If you have questions, thoughts, or comments about this article, please e-mail keneguess@ccsnh.edu.
Back to News List
