Letter from the Director

September, 2009

Seattle University’s mission and values speak to its commitment “to empowering leaders for a just and humane world.” In order to pursue this mission the University places a major emphasis on linking classroom and co-curricular learning with service and justice opportunities in the wider community. In 2004, Seattle University President Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J. founded the Center for Service and Community Engagement (CSCE) to lead this effort. Since its inception, CSCE has pursued several key strategies to connect the classroom, campus, and community.

• CSCE’s support and advocacy for academic service-learning has led to a 111% growth in the number of service-learning courses offered at the University since 2004. In 2008-2009, 102 faculty members engaged 3,915 students through 224 courses with a service-learning component.
• CSCE’s co-curricular programs for students have mobilized hundreds of students to serve, learn and lead in the community outside of their formal coursework. In 2008-2009, CSCE continued its successful service and leadership programs while launching Jumpstart, a year-long program engaging SU students as reading tutors for pre-school children from low-income families.
• CSCE’s focus on making a positive community impact has also made a difference in the lives of many of Seattle’s most vulnerable citizens. CSCE estimates that just through the 2008-2009 service-learning courses, students contributed 60,000 hours of service to the community.

All of this work has contributed to several noteworthy distinctions for Seattle University including recognition on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service. As CSCE completes its fifth year in operation, there is much to reflect on, learn from, and celebrate. The following report provides an overview of our present activities, our results, and our plans for the future. We are thankful for the hundreds of faculty, staff, students, and community partners who have contributed to our collective success.  Together we continue to do great work. 

Yet, there is still much more to be done. Just as Seattle University has its sights set on competing at the premier intercollegiate level in Division-1 Athletics, so too should we pursue the premier level for community engagement. Indeed, President Sundborg recently stated, “Seattle University has the potential of being a national model for community engagement.” To attain this level will not be easy. It will call for creatively thinking out of the box of traditional campus and community relationships. It will stretch the traditional academic enterprise to encompass new approaches to teaching, research, and service. It will require a commitment of additional resources from the University and other sources. Finally, it will call upon hundreds of faculty, staff, students, and community partners to pursue a shared vision of a just and humane world. If successful, Seattle University will truly become Seattle’s University.  

With warm regards,

Kent Koth
Director, Center for Service and Community Engagement