| Academic
Senate of the California State University
AS-2455-99/AA
May 6-7, 1999
Response to Governor Davis’ Announcement
to Develop A Plan for Required Public Service
RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University
urge the Governor and the Legislature to work with the CSU Chancellor,
Board of Trustees, California Faculty Association, campus presidents,
campus senates, and community service and service-learning practitioners
to determine the appropriate resources and mechanisms to provide
the opportunities and incentives necessary to engage CSU students
in meaningful service activities rather than mandate service experiences;
and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU applaud the many community
service and service learning programs that exist in the CSU and
commend them to the attention of the Governor; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU look forward to receiving
a formal proposal from the Governor for consideration by CSU faculty.
RATIONALE: The Academic Senate CSU recognizes that student participation
in community service and service learning enhances student academic
learning, provides a context for theory through practical application
in the community, fosters civic engagement and career exploration,
and at the same time meets the needs of California communities.
Furthermore, the Academic Senate CSU recognizes that each
CSU campus provides opportunities for students to participate in
community service and service learning. As a result, 49% of CSU
students provide over 28 million hours of service to California
communities each year [Student Needs and Priorities Survey (SNAPS)
1994].
The CSU campuses have already developed opportunities and
incentives to involve students in community service through the
establishment of student-run community service programs and student
service recognition awards, the development of coordination of service-learning
courses; and the creation of programs such as America Reads, America
Counts, Pre-Collegiate Academic Development, Human Corps, EPIC,
Upward Bound, VISTA and Americorps programs, and university-wide
days of service. Some CSU students receive stipends or work-study
funds for their service work to support their educational endeavors.
The Academic Senate CSU acknowledges that service, and the
learning that is associated with service, are valuable aspects of
a higher education, yet research demonstrates that mandatory service
requirements on college students undermine the future behaviors
of intentions to volunteer for those students who do not currently
feel free to volunteer (Stukas, Snyder, Clary, 1999). Fostering
an ethic of service is more appropriately met with incentives and
opportunities. Mandated community service for all CSU students would
require commitment of substantial additional resources in order
to implement. In addition, not all students are suited to participate
in community service and may create both liability and public relations
issues for the CSU.
APPROVED — May 6-7, 1999
AS-2455-99/AA
May 6-7, 1999
Response to Governor Davis’ Announcement to Develop
A Plan for Required Public Service
RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University
urge the Governor and the Legislature to work with the CSU Chancellor,
Board of Trustees, California Faculty Association, campus presidents,
campus senates, and community service and service-learning practitioners
to determine the appropriate resources and mechanisms to provide
the opportunities and incentives necessary to engage CSU students
in meaningful service activities rather than mandate service experiences;
and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU applaud the many community
service and service learning programs that exist in the CSU and
commend them to the attention of the Governor; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU look forward to receiving
a formal proposal from the Governor for consideration by CSU faculty.
RATIONALE: The Academic Senate CSU recognizes that student participation
in community service and service learning enhances student academic
learning, provides a context for theory through practical application
in the community, fosters civic engagement and career exploration,
and at the same time meets the needs of California communities.
Furthermore, the Academic Senate CSU recognizes that each CSU
campus provides opportunities for students to participate in community
service and service learning. As a result, 49% of CSU students provide
over 28 million hours of service to California communities each
year [Student Needs and Priorities Survey (SNAPS) 1994].
The CSU campuses have already developed opportunities and incentives
to involve students in community service through the establishment
of student-run community service programs and student service recognition
awards, the development of coordination of service-learning courses;
and the creation of programs such as America Reads, America Counts,
Pre-Collegiate Academic Development, Human Corps, EPIC, Upward Bound,
VISTA and Americorps programs, and university-wide days of service.
Some CSU students receive stipends or work-study funds for their
service work to support their educational endeavors.
The Academic Senate CSU acknowledges that service, and the
learning that is associated with service, are valuable aspects of
a higher education, yet research demonstrates that mandatory service
requirements on college students undermine the future behaviors
of intentions to volunteer for those students who do not currently
feel free to volunteer (Stukas, Snyder, Clary, 1999). Fostering
an ethic of service is more appropriately met with incentives and
opportunities. Mandated community service for all CSU students would
require commitment of substantial additional resources in order
to implement. In addition, not all students are suited to participate
in community service and may create both liability and public relations
issues for the CSU.
APPROVED — May 6-7, 1999 |
