About the CCE

Sunny view of north side Plaster Student Union

A Letter from the Director

Community engagement is a core component of the university’s public affairs mission.  By promoting a campus culture that inspires community engagement, the Center for Community Engagement (through its programs and resources) aspires to develop students who are active citizens of enhanced character, sensitive to the needs of community, competent and committed in their ability to contribute to a global society, and civil in their habits of thought, speech, and action. We:

  • Promote collaborations that build the capacities of our communities. 

  • Connect academic goals with community-defined needs to create collective impact. 

  • Convene dialogues that promote partnership development and are responsive to evolving community issues.  

  • Provide workshops and consultations to student and community organizations 

  • Model and train students to become citizen scholars who address societal concerns alongside community partners. 

On behalf of our CCE staff, I am excited to work with you as a resource as you contribute your knowledge and experiences to your community and the broader society. Together, we will create positive social change as active citizens. 

- Alex Johnson, Director, Center for Community Engagement

Mission

The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) serves students, faculty, staff and community partners as a hub for experiential learning and positive change in an effort to move the university's public affairs mission forward. The Center is committed and works to deepen the University’s commitment to engagement by:

  • Establishing a system, University-wide, for providing students with articulated public engagement experiences that are tied to students’ academic goals and professional goals and ambitions
  • Expanding opportunities and ways for the University to gain community input and feedback regarding issues of public engagement
  • Strengthening the internal alignment and coordination of the University’s public engagement activities to foster and promote more collective community impact and capacity building

Vision

The vision of the CCE is to foster public engagement of all members of the Missouri State community. By promoting a campus culture that inspires community engagement, the Center for Community Engagement aspires to develop students who are active citizens of enhanced character, sensitive to the needs of community, competent and committed in their ability to contribute to a global society, and civil in their habits of thought, speech, and action. As a collective commitment, the CCE is committed to:

  • Reflecting the values of Missouri State University through a standard of high quality work
  • Empowering students, staff, and faculty and fostering their success
  • Understanding our audience(s) and communicating appropriately
  • Valuing reciprocal relationships (and collaborative work)
  • Shining a light on our strengths and weaknesses, and seeking ways to always improve
  • Having a positive presuppositions of others

In our work to support and enhance the Public Affairs Mission, we also value:

  • Cultural Competence
  • Ethical Leadership
  • Community Engagement
  • Inclusivity
  • Social Change
  • Active Citizenship
  • Reciprocity
  • Integrity
  • Accountability
  • Humility
  • Learning
  • Growth

Annual reports

Programs

The CCE works with the MSU and Springfield communities to support collective community goals through intentional programming. Some programs include:

  • Ongoing service experiences
  • Bear Service Days and large scale service events in the Springfield community
  • Bear Breaks Immersion Programs
  • AmeriCorps
  • Connections to local community agencies
  • Food access through the Bear Pantry
  • Pat Walker Missouri Public Affairs Academy
  • Community Engagement resources for individuals, groups, and departments

We are committed to the ongoing success of both community-based programs in Springfield and MSU students, faculty, and staff through reciprocal partnerships. 

Why Serve?

Service is just one way you can get involved in the greater community and help contribute to social change. Through service, you are making a larger impact in the community than you can ever imagine.  You are also able to connect and apply your academic knowledge to real-world, community-identified issues.

  • Students getting involved with service are helping agencies accomplish their goals.
  • Service promotes understanding of diversity including issues of ableism, racism, sexism, and many others.
  • Students also gain crucial leadership skills including self-confidence, critical thinking skills, conflict resolution, and desires towards social change.