Quick Facts for Academic Year 2007-2008

Action and Awareness Events

Backpack Project: multiple groups* participated to fill 29 backpacks for donation to HOME Youth Services.
Giving Tree project: 189 gifts were purchased by participants for children served by Family Building Blocks Relief Nursery.
Hunger awareness month: 45 participated in the Hunger Banquet; $1243 in meal points was donated by 82 students to benefit the Salem Outreach Shelter.
International Peace Day: 120 WU and TIUA students' attended activities.
Tunnel of Oppression: Seven student leaders and 2 faculty/administrators coordinated student led development of each room and 345 members of the WU community viewed the exhibit.
Bush Elementary Partnership Program: This program is led by 2 student leaders and staffed by 50 volunteers completing over 1000 service hours as in-class assistants and after school program volunteers. There are currently 47 elementary kids enrolled in the after-school program.
Shelton Ditch Environment and Community Restoration Grant: Provided service opportunity for all Opening Days participants.
Implemented a successful leadership training retreat for CSL student leaders in collaboration with WEB.
Into the Streets: 95 WU participants and 50 Willamette Academy participants served 15 sites as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Annual Kids Play Day: Five student leaders implemented this event, serving 60 children from Bush and Richmond schools by providing interactive learning activities on campus. Student groups, including the Theatre Organization, Harry Potter Club, WU men's basketball, and TIUA students, collaborated to create activities and volunteer for the event.
SOLV Beach Clean-Up: approximately 40 WU and TIUA students volunteers cleaned up one beach in Lincoln City
Campus Compact Conference: one incoming CAAT student leader participated in the conference and brought back ideas to implement for the 2008-09 school year
HOME Youth and Resource Center Event: CAAT partnered with Phi Delta Theta fraternity to create a campus dodgeball game and a workshop on the college application process for 6 at-risk youth from the HOME Youth and Resource Center
Service Challenge: 137 students participated from 4 residences halls, 2 Greek houses, and 1 off-campus house for a total of 2,679 hours. COP provided mini-grants for service activities, utilized by two student groups, and awarded prizes to group and individual winners. Students donated their prizes, totaling $650, to local non-profit organizations including Friends of Felines, Salem Leadership Foundation, Family Building Blocks, and Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Services. This event was supported by a grant from the President's Office.

*This number does not reflect the total number of participants from the WU community who formed the groups who donated to the Backpack Project.

Service Immersion Programs

Jump Start: New Student Orientation for Community Outreach (NSOCO)

Five leaders, 9 sites, eleven freshman participants, two TIUA participants
Increased intentional methods for building group identity, by organizing gatherings and service opportunities through out the year.
Increased effectiveness of the spring leader training to develop the 2007 program.

Take a Break (TaB) alternative spring break

23 leaders, 14 advisors, nine sites, 75 WU participants, 23 TIUA participants
Improved the leadership binder with increased resources for curriculum and trip planning.
Implemented a multi-session training for leaders on power and privilege, facilitating difficult conversations and conflict, and program planning.
Improved issue-based training of participants to include sessions on fundraising, intercultural communication, reflection, and community-building as well as providing a cultural significance packet of readings for discussion and requiring attendance at multiple convocations and on-campus events to increase awareness.
Executed development plan that raised $87,000 in program costs and an additional $12,572 to rollover for next year.
Created a user friendly web site that streamlines the program mission and objectives to increase visibility.
Diversified program offerings, increasing our appeal to the broader student body.
Developed a local trip focusing on local, sustainable agriculture that partnered with several of Bon Appetit's suppliers.

Service Learning Courses

Facilitated service-learning (community partner sites, curriculum, presentations or evaluation tools) for eight faculty members within the College of Education, History, Psychology, Environmental Science, Hallie Ford Chair in Writing, Politics, and Religious Studies.
Updated CSL web site to increase accessibility to curriculum, grant information, and site resources for faculty.
Partnering with www.givebacktoday.org to provide comprehensive information about potential service sites.
Partnering with the CLA Dean's Office to improve service learning resources and support for faculty.

Student Organizational Support

Kaneko Commons Service and Moral successfully planned two service events for 17 participants.
Circle K reports 192 members who completed service with at community partners such as Humane Society, Salem Outreach Shelter, Bush Elem, Richmond Elem, Peace works, Humane Society Thrift Shop, Marion Polk Food Share, Salem Parks, Easter Seals Children's Guild, Seattle Parks, Salem Community Center, Community Garden, and SESNA. They also conducted a Sock Drive for the Union Gospel Mission and HOME teen homeless shelter and participated in the Rubber Ducky Race-Wulapalloza fundraiser for ALS foundation.
Habitat for Humanity reports 25 members. It has shifted its focus to become a campus-wide resource to utilize builds as an opportunity for student organizations to build teams and awareness of community needs.
Outdoor Pursuits reports 11 members and around 100 service hours. Successfully provided after-school science and math curriculum to Bush Elementary School. Partnered with the Tiger Club to share volunteers and curriculum.
Best Buddies reports 25 members. Successfully provided events and service.
Developed multiple resources to facilitate student service, including a map of site within walking distance and a list of faculty/staff affiliations with community organizations.
Created a service orientation session for TIUA students to encourage greater involvement in WU service activities and individual volunteerism

Community Connection

Developed a new partnership with Youth Impact to create a mentoring program for at-risk youth to launch in Fall 2008.
Developed and launched partnership with the United Way of Marion-Polk County for a shared volunteer and mentor resource center (on-line database of volunteer opportunities) called givebacktoday.org
Streamlined volunteer recruitment and retention structure of Bush Partnership Program, resulting in greater long-term volunteer commitment by WU students
Participated in the Mid Valley Volunteer Managers Association (MVVMA): 40 community agencies participated.
Provided support to the Department of Human Services to develop a Volunteer Services pilot program.
Initiated site visits at under-utilized sites to encourage students to diversify where they choose to volunteer.
Utilize community partner mail group to communicate with 122 agencies.

Recognition and Awards

Willamette University named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the second consecutive year. This distinction recognizes Willamette University for helping to build a culture of service and civic engagement in our nation.
Willamette University named Salem-Keizer School District Partner of the Month for April 2008. This distinction recognizes outstanding work and/or contributions to the school district and community.