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From right are Andrew Wiemer, director of the Butler Center for Service and Leadership; student Guerdiana Thelomar, UM’s 2014 Newman Civic Fellow; and Ashley Arostegui, associate director of the Office of Civic and Community Engagement.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (October 22, 2014)—The University of Miami was recognized with two awards from Florida Campus Compact at the Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, October 15 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
Through the work of the Office of Civic and Community Engagement, along with the William R. Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership Development, UM received the Engaged Campus of the Year for the Independent Sector, an award that recognizes exemplary cross-campus commitment to advancing the civic purposes of higher education.
UM also received the 2014 Student Affairs Partnering with Academic Affairs Award, which recognized the work of the new UM Civic Scholars Program. The University received the award for its effective development of a bridge between academic and co-curricular student involvements in an innovative and exemplary manner. The partnership demonstrates high levels of cooperation, commitment and input, or joint participation between student affairs and academic affairs, as well as an ability to successfully accomplish its goals and positively impact all stakeholders with the full support of administrators, faculty, staff and students.
“We are thrilled that the hard work we’ve done over the last few years to infuse a culture of engagement at UM is being recognized statewide,” said Robin Bachin, assistant provost for civic and community engagement. “Our own innovative programs, as well as our exemplary partnership with the Butler Center, have created greater opportunities for UM students and faculty to participate in community-based learning experiences across disciplines.”
The Office of Civic and Community Engagement actively promotes its mission of engaged scholarship, where academic service-learning meets community-based research. The office links the classroom with the community through hands-on, experimental education, in courses and projects, that develop and translate academic knowledge and critical thinking into community engagement and civic responsibility.
“This is a great honor for the University of Miami, but most importantly truly reflects the impressive work of our students and their involvement in the community as engaged scholars and future leaders of our local, national, and global community,” said Andrew Wiemer, director of the Butler Center.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary of service and leadership in the community, the Butler Center, within the Division of Student Affairs, offers a wide range of volunteer and advocacy-based service opportunities for UM students, staff, and local community members, including one-day special events, classroom experiences, ongoing involvement with more than 40 service organizations, and volunteer opportunities during fall and spring break.
Florida Campus Compact, the state affiliate of Campus Compact, is a national presidential membership organization comprised of 53 college and university presidents in Florida and more than 1,100 nationally who are committed to helping students develop the values and skills of active citizenship through participation in public and community service.
