Last modified: 2019-10-01
Abstract
For over twenty-five years, we have been talking about, and teaching students about, the importance of the triple bottom line. The idea that people, planet, and profits places emphasis on the importance of social responsibility and environmental sustainability in addition to profits has become mainstream thought and is modeled in the majority of American companies. There seems to be a disconnect between some institutions of higher education, and the curriculum where we are teaching the idea, and a formal application of the concept in business programs. Through the application of empowering processes, students at West Virginia Wesleyan College use a project-based approach to identifying and meeting the needs of the local community.
This presentation will illustrate the WVWC model and will focus on shifting a non-engaged student group to an engaged and empowered team. While some isolated community service may be common, a greater benefit is developing students with the ability to identify and meet needs found within the college and local communities. Specific areas covered will include, identifying the need and appropriate actions to work toward a community solution, using a change-based approach to implement the concepts of community engagement and empowerment, identifying what is currently being done by other community organizations for potential partnerships and scaling, determining methods of expansion for a greater impact, and increasing student and faculty engagement and ownership in the process.
Engaged college students will not only serve as change agents during their time on campus but, upon graduation, will enter new communities with an understanding of how to identify areas of need, involve others, and work to fix social deficiencies.