About the CSRC

The central vision of the University, the Mission Statement, describes its role in educating students to become "complete, productive human beings who will continue to learn and contribute to sustaining their environment and to improving the society in which they live." The personal experience students receive through their involvement in the programs of the Center for Social Responsibility and Community contributes to the development of educated, productive citizens who understand their obligation and capacity to serve as leaders in their communities.

The Center for Social Responsibility and Community is a partnership between the College and the community. The mission of the Center is to instill a sense of social responsibility and an understanding of the various means by which individuals can be involved in building strong communities.

Included in the Comprehensive College Plan are directives to "build a positive image for the College, both on and off campus, and to enhance its traditions" (Goal 7). One of the best ways to build a positive image for the College is to provide opportunities for students to personally and directly impact economic and cultural development in the community. The Center for Social Responsibility and Community makes this possible in ways that are visible and tangible for average members of the community.

The College is also directed to "strengthen the sense of community on campus" (Goal 6). The Center, by providing a wide variety of opportunities for College at Oneonta students, faculty and staff to work together on projects such as the annual Exploration event, Annual Conference on Volunteerism, and Into the Streets, helps to support the development of a stronger sense of community on the campus.

Additionally, the College is directed to "strengthen the quality of our academic programs in order to improve the quality of educational experience offered to our students" (Goal 1). Through service-learning, faculty are helping students make the connection between classroom learning and the world of work in ways that enhance what students gain from the in-class experience.  A growing number of faculty are incorporating service-learning as a key component to their course curricula. Service learning is another program that complements the mission of the Center and the College. This program develops and enhances partnerships for interested faculty and collaborating agencies and schools to identify community needs and develop service-learning projects.

SUNY College at Oneonta is inspiring students to make a difference through voluntary community service. The Center for Social Responsibility and Community helps strengthen the relationships between academic study, volunteer service, and community building.

Community Service Benefits

For Students

• Learn about broader community issues

• Interaction with diverse cultures and lifestyles

• Valuable career experience

• Exploration of values and ethical issues

• Increased relevance for academic skills

• Fun!

For Faculty

• Positive relationships with community members

• Enrichments and applications for curriculum

• Students more engaged in learning

• Supports the College's mission of citizenship and public service

For Agencies

• Access to college resources

• Positive relationship with College staff, faculty and students

• Access to significant pool of volunteers

The Center develops and coordinates volunteer and service-learning opportunities for students in local, regional, national and international settings. The Center is actively collaboration with, and supports faculty in developing service-learning curricula.

The inaugural program of the Center is the student-led and student-run office, which provides leadership and operational coordination and support for a wide variety of volunteer and service-learning experiences. Students in the Center participate on the Faculty Advisory Council.  The Center for Social Responsibility and Community student-run office for recruitment and training is located at Alumni Hall, room 208.

The AmeriCorps Rural School Empowerment Program is a program of the Center. This program enables the College and community members to work together to enhance the education of area youth. As a service opportunity, AmeriCorps participation provides its members with a vehicle to assist youth in the rural communities with tutoring and other education projects in Otsego County.