Priority

Foster community engagement that benefits faculty, students and community partners.

Background

Binghamton University understands the value of collaboration and will continue to establish partnerships throughout the region, New York state and beyond. Through these partnerships with community organizations, businesses and agencies, Binghamton University will become a model of community engagement that will revitalize communities while centering mutuality and reciprocity with our partners. 

Binghamton University will foster a culture of engagement for all campus constituents through community-engaged teaching, learning and research, and involvement in our communities. First, students will participate in activities that engage them interpersonally within the local community. They will participate in community experiences that develop character traits to better contribute to community and civic life while addressing shared goals with the community. Additionally, faculty and staff will work closely with students and the local community to develop an approach for teaching and learning that integrates purposeful community partnerships with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, support civic development and strengthen communities.

As soon as new students step on campus, they will have opportunities to engage in service and philanthropic activities. Their coursework will incude community components such as capstone projects, internships and group service projects. From the start, Binghamton will integrate a culture of community service into the student experience. 

Through these efforts, Binghamton University students will become more than outstanding academics. They will grow into informed, conscientious citizens who develop improved social responsibility and solid citizenship skills that can lead to greater community and civic involvement after their time at Binghamton.

Faculty and staff will build stronger relationships within the communities they live and with students. Faculty will discover additional avenues for research and publications via newfound relationships between themselves and the community, while at the same time finding networking opportunities with other faculty or institutions.

As part of our commitment to community engagement, Binghamton is pursuing the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement

Goals & Metrics

Goal: Binghamton University faculty and staff collaborate with the community through their engaged teaching and scholarship.

Metric

Number of faculty

What/How

Number of faculty reporting community-engaged scholarship on their Annual Faculty Report

Why

Community-engaged scholarship increases the relevance of research

Target

100 by 2026

Goal: Binghamton University faculty and staff collaborate with the community through their engaged teaching and scholarship.

Metric

Number of faculty

What/How

Number of faculty offering designated community-engaged learning courses

Why

Community-engaged learning benefits both students and community organizations

Target

45 by 2026

Goal: Binghamton University faculty and staff collaborate with the community through their engaged teaching and scholarship.

Metric

Number of courses

What/How

Number of community-engaged learning courses offered

Why

Community-engaged learning benefits both students and community organizations

Target

70 by 2026

Goal: Binghamton University students are engaged in their communities.

Metric

Number of students

What/How

Number of students enrolled in community-engaged learning courses

Why

Community-engaged learning benefits both students and community organizations

Target

1200 by 2026

Goal: Binghamton University students are engaged in their communities.

Metric

% of students

What/How

Percentage of undergraduate students engaging in co-curricular activity as reported to B-Engaged

Why

Student volunteerism is important in creating a lifelong practice of community involvement

Target

40% by 2026

Goal: Binghamton University students are engaged in their communities.

Metric

Rate

What/How

Difference between BU student rate of voting and NSLVE benchmark

Why

Student voting is important in creating engaged citizens

Target

No difference from NSLVE benchmark

Goal: Binghamton University staff and faculty volunteer in their communities.

Metric

% of faculty

What/How

Percentage of faculty reporting community service on their Annual Faculty Report

Why

Faculty and staff have valuable skills and knowledge to share with their communities

Target

60% by 2026

Goal: Binghamton University staff and faculty volunteer in their communities.

Metric

% of staff

What/How

Percentage of staff reporting community service on Professional Staff Senate survey

Why

Faculty and staff have valuable skills and knowledge to share with their communities

Target

75% by 2026

Goal: Binghamton University and the community engage in mutually beneficial relationships.

Metric

% of organizations

What/How

Percentage of organizations agreeing or strongly agreeing

Why

Working with organizations should be mutually beneficial-- not a burden to one of the participants

Target

75% by 2026