Buffalo State College is presently a leader in civic and community engagement. Buffalo State is the only comprehensive college in the SUNY system located in a city and it takes its role as citizen and partner seriously. As a result of its deep and broad civic engagement efforts, Buffalo State has recently earned Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement in 2015, was awarded the Washington Center Higher Education Civic Engagement Award in 2016, and has been appointed to the President’s Community Service Honor Roll eight times. This document provides a roadmap for deepening and expanding our institution’s civic and community engagement work.

Through collaborative research and dialogue, the Civic Action Plan Work Group developed this Civic Action Plan in coordination with the office of Buffalo State College President, Dr. Katherine Conway-Turner, in the fall of 2016 and spring of 2017. This Civic Action Plan identifies four priority areas where we can strengthen our civic and community engagement efforts across campus and in our community, where we can improve and better communicate our work, and where we can expand and deepen the public purposes of the college. These priority areas are

1.      Developing a Shared Language and Culture;
2.      Broadening Community Input and Deepening Community Impact;
3.      Enhancing Supports for Faculty, Staff, and Students;
4.      Coordinating Civic and Community Engagement

Priority Area #1:  Developing a Shared Language and Culture

There is a need to establish a shared language and a shared culture across the campus. This will give added coherence, depth, and purpose to our civic and community engagement efforts and will help to articulate a common intention to the work that will help grow civic and community engagement.

Priority Area #2:  Broadening Community Input and Deepening Community Impact

There is a need to strengthen the institution’s contribution to the health and vitality of the Buffalo community. We must continue to broaden collaborations and reciprocity that will harness the power of campus-community connections and improve both campus outcomes and community priorities.

Priority Area #3:  Enhancing Faculty, Staff, and Student Voice and Support

There is a need to enhance faculty, staff, and student voice and support in realizing our civic and community engagement goals. To foster a climate that can encourage faculty, staff, and students to take on this work effectively, additional steps and supports must be developed to give all individuals the tools to be successful.

Priority Area #4:  Coordinating Civic and Community Engagement

There is a need to expand coordination of civic and community engagement efforts across the campus through the establishment of an Office of Civic and Community Engagement. The coordination of efforts will deepen internal and external communication and connections, expand potential impact of the work we do, support engagement efforts such as community-based research not currently overseen by existing offices, and strengthen campus commitment.