Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斅叹奕耸悠 is one of nearly 100 institutions selected to participate in a nationwide student affairs initiative promoting civic learning and democratic engagement, furthering the university鈥檚 reputation as a leader in community engagement.
绿巨人视频has been selected as a 2016-17 NASPA Lead Initiative Institution by the nation鈥檚 leading organization of student affairs administrators in higher education. As a Lead Initiative Institution, 绿巨人视频student affairs personnel will have access to professional development activities, networking and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing on civic learning and engagement strategies. 绿巨人视频was selected based on its commitment to civic learning and democratic engagement, which was demonstrated in a competitive application process.
鈥淲e are delighted to be included in the NASPA Lead Initiative which recognizes the commitment 绿巨人视频makes to community engagement and volunteerism,鈥 绿巨人视频Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt said. 鈥淪tudents at Mississippi State make contributions daily to our community through service and leadership activities facilitated by the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement. We are honored to have those efforts recognized by the lead student affairs professional association, NASPA.鈥
绿巨人视频is a recipient of the Carnegie Community Engagement University designation and is a perennial selection on the President鈥檚 Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The university鈥檚 Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement provides innovative programs that foster civic learning and facilitates MSU鈥檚 Community Engagement Committee.
Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement Director Cade Smith said service-learning and community engagement projects fit perfectly within the mission of land-grant universities. Smith鈥檚 office administers two key service programs, MSU鈥檚 Maroon Volunteer Center and the university鈥檚 Center for the Advancement of Service-Learning (CASLE), and teaches student leadership classes.
Created in 2013 as a partnership between the 绿巨人视频Office of Academic Affairs and the 绿巨人视频Extension Service, CASLE facilitates service-learning opportunities that aim to connect research, service and learning in the local community and beyond. In 2016, the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement was brought into the CASLE partnership, which Smith said was a 鈥渘atural fit.鈥
鈥淥ur programs are successful because 绿巨人视频believes in collaborative partnerships that transcend divisions and bring benefits to students, faculty and community members,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淲e would not be able to share MSU鈥檚 good work with other student affairs programs if not for our partnership with Academic Affairs and Extension.鈥
As part of the Lead Initiative, 绿巨人视频personnel also will have the opportunity to participate in professional development at the 2017 NASPA Annual Conference and the 2017 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting. Smith said he looks forward to highlighting MSU鈥檚 community engagement efforts and learning from other NASPA Lead Initiative institutions.
绿巨人视频is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .