Purdue News
September 26, 1997
Purdue volunteers active in Greater Lafayette community
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue University strives to be a good neighbor in Greater
Lafayette by encouraging and supporting students, faculty and staff who volunteer
their time and money throughout the year.
Purdue is entering its third year as a member in the Indiana Campus Compact (ICC).
ICC programs focus on integrating community service into the lives of students, faculty
and staff throughout the university.
Student organizations, fraternities and sororities, the residence halls, and the Purdue
Student Government carry out community service programs every year. In addition,
faculty and staff join the student body for a day of service on Martin Luther King
Day and University Day.
Two new activities on campus include hands-on service learning in classrooms and laboratories
in the School of Pharmacy and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Faculty and staff members also have participated in ICC-sponsored workshops, "Universities
as Citizens," where they explored ways to link university teaching, learning, research
and service with the Greater Lafayette community.
Some examples of service activities on the West Lafayette campus during the past school
year:
- Students and staff in the residence hall system completed more than 210 community
service projects. They worked with the Food Finders Food Bank, the Central Indiana
Regional Blood Center, the United Way of Greater Lafayette, Greenbush Industries,
Greater Lafayette Area Special Services and the Red Cross, to name a few. The residence hall
system was awarded a Grand Marquis de Lafayette award in 1997 in recognition of its
continued contributions over a period of years to community leadership and the quality of life in Greater Lafayette.
- A new sequence of courses in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering had
teams of students and faculty provide technical expertise to six community agencies.
The teams help with problem solving, often computer-related.
- The Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship in the School of Education provided
ongoing programs and teaching methodology to educators teaching citizenship. The
center promotes community involvement in the belief that it will help prepare students
with a sense of civic duty and responsibility.
- Fraternity and sorority members contributed 15,750 hours of service and $27,500 to
more than 50 agencies. The Greek system also participated in the United Way Campaign
for the first time and contributed $6,000.
- Habitat for Humanity offered an alternative spring break for students interested
in construction of affordable housing, normally in rural or inner-city environments.
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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