Message from the Executive Director, Mission and Vision

Awilda Colon, Executive Director Photo

Message from the Executive Director

Dear Stockton Community,

I am pleased to share the Annual Report for FY 2024 with you. Among our successes, the Service-Learning program expanded and welcomed a new coordinator to fill our vacancy. We supported 58 courses in FY24, increased Civic Engagement micro-grants for students from 10 to 14, and saw a rise in student participation at the Celebration of Service events, with students presenting 23 projects. 1,200 students enrolled in Service-Learning courses, an increase of 73 from FY23, and we secured ten new community partnerships.

According to assessment findings from the Service-Learning Pre- and Post-Tests for AY 24, which measure students' understanding and application of five ELO-related concepts before and after their Service-Learning experiences, students’ self-ratings on mastering these concepts significantly improved. 999 students completed the Pre- and Post-Tests.

Qualitative analysis of the students’ reflections showed a recurrent theme of what they learned from their Service-Learning experiences: skill development, learning to overcome challenges, and gaining empathy and understanding.

Year after year, most of the faculty, students, staff, and community partners surveyed about the Impact of Community Engagement agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, ‘Stockton contributes to the well-being of the community.’ This important finding motivates us to remain vigilant in our efforts to continue adding value to our community.

We launched the Engagement Leadership Team Program (ELT). This program combined the Bonner students and Fellows into one team. We created a professional development curriculum based on NACE Career Readiness Resources. In FY 24, the Center employed 29 ELTs. This team supports our Homework Completion Program, Naturalization, Computer and Internet, English classes, and the Social Hour. The ELTs also provide support in the office and at university-wide community events.

Data collection and evaluation improved, and the Impact of Community Engagement on Students survey achieved an 85.6% increase in response rates over FY23. Assessment efforts will remain crucial for the Center’s Five-Year Review in Fall 2025. They will also provide evidence of engagement if the institution applies for the Carnegie Community Engaged elective classification in FY29.

I am thankful for the outstanding SCCESL team, our campus colleagues, and community partners whose collaboration and support have been instrumental in achieving our shared goals.

Merydawilda Colón, L.S.W., Ph.D.

Executive Director of SCCESL, Associate Dean of SOBL, & Professor of Social Work

Mission

Community Engagement co-sponsors programs in the community, opens doors and creates connections for new and improved collaborations, maximizes resources to maintain and establish mutually beneficial relationships with the community, and assists our internal and external partners with research activities to deepen the scholarship of engagement.
Service-Learning is a pathway for social change through community-based learning, via curricular/co-curricular opportunities, sustaining civic engagement, enhancing reciprocal community partnerships, fostering civic and social agency, and exploring experiences through critical reflection.

Vision

The Stockton Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning promotes the ideals of public service and social responsibility, and serves the public good.

Stockton University is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Designated Campus

“Community engagement describes the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.

The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.”