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CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Believe in Possibilities

he university’s motto “The When the Center for Community recognized that local 6th graders
measure of a Life is its Service” Engagement began in 2010, there would benefit from programming
Treflects the culture at Sam were 22 faculty teaching 40 ACE to better understand career options
Houston State University, where courses. We have seen tremendous and the education/technical training
civic engagement is recognized as an growth to the ACE program in the needed to achieve them. This age
integral component of campus life. past seven years. Presently over 250 group was identified for two main
SHSU has expanded curriculum, faculty (representing every department reasons: at this age, some students
pedagogy, research, and service and all seven colleges) teach these begin to disengage with school; and,
that includes civic engagement specially-designated courses with over academic choices in 7th grade may
through volunteerism, outreach, 325 courses offered. In the College limit options in higher grades. The
academic community engagement, of Education, over 90 professors have school developed curriculum to
inform students about careers,
and SHSU developed a yearly
event for all 6th graders to visit
campus. Every spring, children
take a student-led campus tour,
participate in a Q&A session
with SHSU students, attend
a class, and lunch in one of
the dining halls. Assessments
demonstrate that this project
helps students broaden their
career interests and clarify how
school helps them prepare for
future jobs.
Additionally, numerous
local children need additional
help with literacy. Many
SHSU students and faculty
volunteer their time and skills
to tutor and mentor students
SHSU Literacy Block student reads with elementary student.
from Pre-K through secondary
and community-based collaborative taught over 175 course sections as school. SHSU education
research—all of which support the ACE courses. professors and their classes run the
overarching goal of preparing students Schools are the heart of any free literacy program at the public
to be active and productive citizens. community, but Huntsville library, along with a number of
Academic Community Independent School District’s other education-related engagement
Engagement provides students with resource constraints mean that many programs.
opportunities to become civically needs of local students’ risk going Each year, Believe in Possibilities
involved through long-standing unmet. As a result, SHSU partnered is expanding the personal and
partnerships between the university with HISD to create the Believe in professional horizons of thousands
and dozens of local non-profit Possibilities initiative. What started as of local public school students, while
organizations, agencies and businesses. a conversation between one 6th grade enriching the college curriculum for
Students apply the knowledge of counselor, the superintendent and hundreds of SHSU students through
their academic disciplines to define SHSU faculty has grown rapidly into applied learning experiences. Believe
and address issues of public concern a widespread effort to support local in Possibilities empowers young
and advocate for change through public schools. people and makes our small rural
collaboration in the community. Staff and administration at HISD community better and stronger.

16 Sam Houston State University | College of Education Annual Report 2017