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Sources:
David Procter, 785-532-6868, dprocter@k-state.edu;
Dan Kahl, 785-532-6868, dankahl@k-state.edu
On the Web: http://www.k-state.edu/cecd
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu
Tuesday,
September 19, 2006
K-STATE
ENGAGED IN KANSAS COMMUNITIES TO HELP FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS;
SAVE MONEY; AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
MANHATTAN
-- The staff at Kansas State University's new Center for Engagement
and Community Development don't plan to just continue the role of
K-State as a helping partner to Kansas communities. They want to
take it up a notch by becoming active partners with towns and cities
all over the state.
Director
David Procter said the new center is a one-stop place for community
leaders to find out what K-State can do to help them solve community
challenges and problems. The goal is to apply K-State's expertise
in issues of community development everywhere in Kansas.
"We
envision the Center as a front door for community leaders who seek
assistance from the university," Procter said. "These
projects benefit everyone involved and will provide our students
with opportunities to make a difference in improving the lives of
people in the state."
An
example of how the center can help: Professor Alok Bhandari and
students from his natural resources and environmental sciences capstone
class were asked by Fort Scott city officials to determine the water
capacity of Fort Scott Lake. By having the class do the work rather
than a consulting firm, Bhandari said the city saved at least $30,000.
Another
example is a drama therapy class for adolescents with special needs
held this past summer on the K-State campus.
"Camps
like this are more often hosted by the local parks and recreation
or nonprofit organizations, but a parent of a student who participated
in our drama therapy class requested we create something for kids
with special needs to do during the summer. That is how the students
and I decided it was time for a camp," said Sally Bailey, director
of K-State's drama therapy program.
"This
work represents a partnership between K-State and the schools as
well as with the parents," Bailey said. "We also received
funding from the City of Manhattan Parks and Recreation this summer
for scholarships."
As
director of the new center, Procter will provide leadership for
engagement -- encouraging communities to partner with K-State faculty
and staff -- to get results. K-State has adopted the definition
of engagement as redesigning teaching, research, extension and service
functions to become more involved with the community outside the
university.
The
center will collaborate with K-State Research and Extension and
all county agents throughout the state. Dan Kahl is the liaison
between the center and K-State Research and Extension.
"We
are looking for ways to integrate the work of K-State with that
of the extension service -- even more than it is already. The Center
will build the capacity of the extension system for community development
work," Kahl said.
"Although
it is clear to me that every part of our university has a role to
play, I believe the new Center for Engagement and Community Development
will provide an important impetus to making K-State a more engaged
institution and to achieving our goal of becoming one of the premier
land-grant universities," said Duane Nellis, K-State provost.
Although
land-grant universities like K-State have extended themselves to
the outside community though research and extension programs, engagement
must encompass all areas of K-State, Nellis said.
"This
center will enhance K-State's position as a knowledge portal linking
the university's tremendous range of expertise with communities
throughout the state," he said.
K-State
Research and Extension has been practicing engagement for the last
100 years, said Fred Cholick, dean of the College of Agriculture
and director of K-State Research and Extension.
With
an extension agent in every Kansas county, Cholick said K-State
Research and Extension has established a strong network across the
state. The Center for Engagement and Community Development will
allow that network to gain more depth, he said.
"I
view it as a great opportunity to combine the fabulous resources
K-State has across campus," Cholick said.
"Community
and economic development have always been important goals for K-State,"
Cholick said. "This center will provide us with a structure
to convert opportunities into realities for communities across Kansas."
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