Strategic Plan for Town & Gown Relations: The Community Initiative O ne C ommunity, Our H ome

1. + Sunnyvale Strategic Plan for Town & Gown Relations:The Community InitiativeOne Community, Our Home The sunniest spot in New England! “Home of the Spartans” St. Cloud State University Team Leader: Alexis Schewe Nicole Jagodzinski, Lacey Seefeldt, & Stephanie Kroll

2. Guiding Theory:Chickering’sTheory of Identity Development • Chickering’s theory explains identity formation, particularly in college students, via seven vectors of development. They are a series of tasks that deal with feeling, thinking, believing, and relating to others. Although all vectors are important in the overall formation of identity, the following are particularly relevant to this strategic plan: • Moving through Autonomy Toward Interdependence • Rationale: “Thriving students not only are open to diverse viewpoints and value differences in others, but they also believe that it is their responsibility to contribute to the community around them and make a positive difference. Caring about others and working with others to make a positive difference in the world moves thriving students from an introspective focus on self to an engagement with the world around them” (Schreiner, 2010, p. 8). • Developing Purpose • Rationale: “An involved community is not a given…active participation offers us a chance to create meaning for ourselves on the basis of our particular contributions to something larger than ourselves” (Chickering, 2008, p. 90).

3. Guiding Theory:Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development Kohlberg's Six Stages: • Level I. Pre-conventional Morality: Focus on self • Stage 1. Obedience and Punishment Orientation: Obeying rules to avoid punishment • Stage 2. Individualistic, Instrumental Morality: Following rules if it benefits the individual. • Level II. Conventional Morality: Focus on significant others • Stage 3. Interpersonal Morality: Doing what is right for the valued opinion of those close to the individual. • Stage 4. Maintaining the Social Order: Upholding morality due to a duty to society. • Level III. Post-conventional Morality: Focus on equality and the common good • Stage 5. Social Welfare Morality: Promotion of human rights is valued as important. • Stage 6. Universal Principles: Equal consideration of all points of view, focus on human rights. • Rationale: We are committed to assisting students’ movement from pre-conventional to conventional and to post-conventional levels of moral reasoning. (Evans, Forney, Guido, Patton, & Renn, 2010)

4. Guiding Theory: Bronfenbrenner’s Developmental Ecology Model Guiding Theory: Transformational Learning Allows students to develop their own “meaning” and viewpoints that guide their actions. Meaning is formed by social, psychological, ethical, and physical factors. When one’s meaning is challenged transformation occurs as the individual seeks to restore equilibrium to their life. Rationale: In academic, service and social interactions with the community, students are given opportunities to challenge and re-evaluate their viewpoints. These interactions allow students to transform how they make meaning in their everyday lives. (Bamber & Hankin, 2011) • Examines person-environment interactions and how they influence growth and development. • Mesosystem, a contextual component, involves connections that take place between two or more settings that contain the individual. • Rationale: There is a symbiotic relationship between the town of Sunnyvale and the students at Sunnyvale University. To provide the most optimal setting for growth and development the Community Initiative seeks to strengthen the context of the mesosystem. (Evans, Forney, Guido, Patton, & Renn, 2010)

5. Objectives • Create a culture on campus and in the community which values and models respect. • Embrace and offer authentic opportunities for transformational learning. • Foster an environment which promotes the safety, protection and development of all people’s physical, emotional and mental well-being. • Develop ethical and responsible citizens who give back to society at local and global levels now and throughout their lifespan. • Act intentionally to build diverse partnerships that appreciate the unique characteristics, cultures, and lifestyles of all people.

6. Strategic Plan: The 3 C’s of Civility

7. Citizenship

8. Connection

9. Choice

11. Citizenship Spartan Security Ambassadors: • Group of students, staff and community members who maintain peace on campus and in the community. Trained in bystander intervention, conflict resolution and disturbance response they intervene in situations on and off campus that may escalate to uncivil behavior. This promotes social welfare morality development. Off-Campus Student Advising Office: • Provides off-campus students with services which assist them in good citizenship, for example: equipment rentals (i.e., rakes & shovels), educational workshops, leasing rights, and advocacy. Renters 101: • Educational program to teach students to live as responsible citizens in the community. Residences where all tenants have completed the workshop receive incentives such as landlord provided rent deductions, campus spirit gear for their homes, and/or coupons from neighboring businesses. Restorative Justice Program: • Program that identifies students with neighborhood disturbance-related citations in court and offers a restorative justice option. Requires students to appear before, and work with, a board of trained citizens who address student misbehavior and its effect on others and assign appropriate sanctions. It encourages transformational learning and promotes dialogue among victims and offenders in order to hold offenders accountable and meet victims’ needs.

12. Citizenship Civility & Community Workshops: • All incoming students arerequired to watch a 1 hour video presentation on civility. Topics include: education about online civility and cyber-ethics, renter responsibilities, laws, respect for community and neighbors, the value of diversity, how to hold a responsible party, etc. Videos will be created by peer mentors and student leaders. Sunnyvale Service Scholars: • A leadership development program that combines theory and practice. The program equips students with the knowledge, skills and vision they need to build community, become active citizens, and advocate for social justice. Through coursework students learn about ethics, democracy, community mobilization, and social change. This program provides an optimal setting for moral development (Reiff & Keene, 2012). • Utilizes Community Based Learning pedagogy which integrates “course work, independent studies, research, dialogue, training, and volunteerism…that address community needs that encompass both practice and reflection” (Flores, Crosby-Currie, & Zimmerman, 2007, p. 11-12). (Adapted from the University of Massachusetts Amherst) Volunteer Opportunities: • Collaboration with Student Activities and Residence Life to implement service programming: • Adopt-a-Philanthropy – all residence halls must choose a nonprofit organization to support. • Days of Service – The University will host a full day of service on national service days (i.e. Make a Difference Day and MLK Day). During these events students will “flood” the streets of Sunnyvale to complete short term service projects. • Sunnyvale Plunge – Students can participate in a total immersion experience in the town of Sunnyvale. Students learn about the needs of low income residents, receive education about services, stay in a local shelter, and have the opportunity to personally connect with Sunnyvale residents.

14. Connection “Meet Sunnyvale” Expo: • Collaboration with local businesses and service providers to hold an on-campus resource fair that provides opportunities for students to establish consumer relationships. Meet the Neighbors Campaign: • Facebook page highlights a neighborhood and one or two of the community members in it each week. A photo of the member(s) is included along with their interests and values of community. • Neighborhood block party/meet and greet the second weekend of fall semester. Programming includes food and a speed-friending event. Neighborhood Advisory Council: • A go-to for all stakeholders in community/campus connect program; the focus is on safety, student/community concerns, and active approaches to problem resolution. They hold open forums and offer input on initiatives for their specific community. Take 5 Events: • Every day of the month that ends in a “5” means it’s a “Take 5” day (the 5th, 15th and 25th). On this day a food table is set up outside in each neighborhood. This table offers snacks and refreshments so residents of the neighborhood (both community members and students) can stop by and “Take 5” together. Sponsored by local businesses. (Adapted from George Mason University, 2012). Homestay in Sunnyvale: • Program involves local Sunnyvale alumni and University faculty inviting students into their homes to foster fellowship.  Allows alumni to give back to their alma mater in a meaningful way, and allows faculty to connect with students outside the classroom. 

15. Connection Community Garden: • A space that allows students and community members to enjoy food, nature and camaraderie. Excessive produce will be donated to the local food shelf. Community Asset Mapping: • A strengths-based approach of responding to community needs. In partnership, the town and University will map out community resources. After the initial mapping phase, the University can strategically create partnerships that meet identified needs. Community Advocate Program: • Funded by Community Work Study monies, student employees areplaced at partner organizations and serve as a liaison between the University and the community. This program gives students the opportunity to become knowledgeable about social issues from the community perspective, and provide authentic opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. Sunnyvale Aware: • An Emergency Alert and Response System connected to Twitter and text messaging software that allows University officials to communicate important and timely information to student, faculty, staff and community members regarding any threatening conditions.

17. Choice Being a Healthy Spartan 101: Presentation & Student Panel: • Mandatory during orientation week for all new Spartans. Led by Peer Health Educators, this panel introduces social norming data and provide an opportunity for students to discuss drinking, drug use, sexual health, and overall health and well-being. Community Recreation Involvement Opportunities: • Outreach to student population to get them engaged in the Sunnyvale community organizations and recreation. • Collaborative Opportunities: bowling leagues, community theater, cycling club, community arts bureau, & health & fitness groups. Civility Bystander Training: • A multi-media social marketing campaign to increase active bystanders on the campus. Includes a bystander intervention training each semester for students, faculty, staff, and community members (Potter, 2012). • Bystander training teaches people how to intervene in situations where civility is at risk – such as public disturbances, misuse of property or disrespectful behavior. Off-campus students can receive incentives if everyone in their home attends a training. This training will also be a requirement of the Spartan Security Ambassadors.

18. Choice Sundown in Sunnyvale Program Series: • A series of late night programs and events that are alcohol-free alternatives. • Educational messages areembedded into programming efforts to promote healthy living and expose students to social norming data. Offers an opportunity for personal meaning and transformational learning. • Programs & Events: movie screenings, live music, guest speakers (inspirational speakers, comedians, hypnotists, magicians), intramural sport tournaments, dance parties, and University recreation events. Healthy Lifestyles Marketing Campaign: • Living a Sunny Life – Health promotions targeted at the entire community. • Health Speaker Series: A series of speaking events that address multiple health topics. Speakers include University faculty and staff members, local health care providers, and social service professionals. • Facebook and YouTube campaign; Web cast series • Branding Sunnyvale: Includes street-post banners, billboards, and signage in businesses and around the University branding our community as a healthy community that promotes leading a healthy lifestyle.

19. Marketing the 3 C’s

20. Marketing Details

21. A Final Word… To the President, Board of Trustees and Town Representatives: While we realize we have proposed an ambitious plan we believe that boldness is needed. Current literature and research calls for such boldness when addressing issues of culture change and civility plans. We also would like you to note the following: • Much of our plan can be introduced with existing resources, such as: faculty incorporating civility teachings in their curriculum, the expertise of student affairs professionals, and utilizing current peer mentors as civility leaders. • Our strategic plan would take place in stages, ultimately coming to full fruition in approximately four years. The most feasible and necessary programs would be implemented in the first year such as the marketing campaign, the required civility workshop, safety initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and a portion of the healthy choices programming. • The success of this initiative relies on continuous assessment of our overall objectives and evaluation of each individual program. Student learning outcomes, community relations and satisfaction, faculty and staff perspectives, and economic impact will all be addressed. • The strategic plan involves many stakeholders from both campus and community which means that a collaboration of resources is quite appropriate and appealing to many involved. Community businesses and organizations can assist with providing financial backing and support for the program. Additionally, state and federal grants are available for innovative programs that support citizenship. Thank you. Sincerely, The Town and Gown Strategic Planning Committee Sunnyvale Thanks for visiting Sunnyvale! Come again soon!

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