Project 3/ Community Engagement

Community engagement service

Lecture in electronic boards

UHD 9th Floor writing center

UHD Library

UHD Free computers for UHD Gators

UHD

UHD Newspaper

Uhd community Engagement

Help Wanted

Disabled Definition

UHD promotes help with science major

IMG_20160405_113144825

BY Cristian Moralez

Cristian Moralez

900362621

Dr, Dimmick

English 1302

Research paper

Campus Engagement/Literacy practice

Within the University of Houston Downtown, you do not only find eager college students walking through hallways, talking in groups, and making the atmosphere of competitiveness high; you also find both visual literacy and digital literacy, being expressed and following the vision of community engagement. With over 40 years of providing college students with high- quality education, small classes, flexible scheduling and an affordable tuition; the University of Houston - Downtown does not only exceed the need of a student, but as well continues to exceed in giving back to the Houston community. UHD( University Of Houston Downtown) mission as seen in the Mission and Vision section of their website tells the audience that the campus “Is an inclusive community dedicated to integrating teaching, service and scholarly research to develop students’ talent and prepare them for success in a dynamic global society”(, UHD.EDU, 21 Jan. 2016.) thru these words , it’s clear that the University strongly emphasizes the belief of what is being taught in the classroom, should as well, be emphasized to the community.

In campus, literacy practices are the tools necessary that is needed of a successful student in and out of UHD. A most common practice is Visual literacy. Visual literacy within UHD, proposes student's interest on images that critically challenges a person's ideas and can either work as a persuasion or neglect. A key towards community engagement in campus is most often lead by several clubs that most often give community service outside of campus. UHD offers many clubs and organizations that by the effect of visual literacy, can either buy a student's attention or neglect a student's interest in giving back to the community. In the implementation of visual literacy, the color aspect in publicity and as well of the mission statement; can grab the attention of those who make the image worth their attention. With Visual literacy, it's only up to an individual's interest to commit or reject the offers. For example, once you enter either the O’shea, Commerce, or the Academic building the first thing you spot near the doors or within the first wall you see; is some sort of posters announcing either a campus or off campus event. In most occasions, posters are the first way of publicity either organizations in campus use to reach students to their events. A great example of this demonstration would be a recent event that was held on April 15, 2016, from “The Center for Community Engagement and service learning organization. “The Buffalo Bayou Service Project”, was promoted with colorful flyers in the walls within campus. Within those posters mission statement, it wanted UHD students and staff to participate in the Global Youth Service Day, event which was held to engage students to lead in their community campuses by doing a generous service that would make the Buffalo Bayou beautiful through the act of cleaning and recycling trash. This event of course, wouldn’t have been in possible interest, if posters weren’t posted a month earlier. Then again, as from reading the poster and analyzing it’s time arrangement, the aspect of cleaning would also have students reject or accept this proposal, depending on their availability. With the effect of this event, UHD made in impact either ways because it helped our campus and downtown Houston look clean and held the efficient purpose to keep its mission and vision strong and efficient.

By the act of posting community service opportunities, in either poster boards or via email, UHD vision is performed in a way that impacts the view and concern that later implements the participation and outreach ideas for UHD organizations. UHD for example, is remarkably passionate with community engagement that they even started a Center for community engagement and Service Learning (CCESL). In what the campus calls CCESL, the purpose of existing; as seen within UHD website, said, “The Purpose of the Center Community for Engagement and Service learning was to prepare educated, engaged citizens, to strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; to address critical societal issues: and resources with the public and private sectors to enrich and enhance curriculum , teaching, and learning , thus providing students with high impact practices that enhance their academic careers at UHD”("About CCESL | Major Opportunities At The University Of Houston-Downtown") Another interesting aspect of CCESL, is that thru community engagement not only is it promoting good image for the campus it also promotes a high aspect on literacy. Within the practice of community engagement; literacy also makes up a strong portion that is given to both a student and the community. For instance, UHD has partnered with Chambers Elementary school (Alief ISD), Eliot Elementary school (Houston ISD), Hicks Elementary School (Alief ISD), Jack Field Elementary (Humble ISD), and Stephens Elementary school (Aldine ISD) to help teach elementary students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs, which in many cases consist of high vocabulary that yet in those early grades, kids wouldn’t be able to understand quiet efficiently. In these partnerships, UHD students are sent to these elementary schools to help students seek in interest in STEM. But first thing is first, and in order to do that the so called teachers (UHD students) have to be trained days prior these events. To a junior in the University of Houston Downtowns perspective, her experience working at an elementary school touched her heart by seeing the fascinated expressions on a kids face, but shockingly, she had mentioned that the success of this program was because of being able to read and comprehend a lesson plan. She had told me that our campus had given her a lesson plan to make her know, what was needed to be taught. To my friend, she had to read a text book based on biology and the human function, and later should have been able to translate the context to an elementary students perspectives. At first, she was unfamiliar with some context, but later found out how to get students engaged in most of her activities; which consisted in group work and a lot of excitement. For instance, an assignment my friend practiced was, to have students identify the body function and to create a human body portrait. The plan was to have the students draw a human body and label body parts that would had to glue together. In the end, literacy and biology practiced to both my friend and her students. First by having the ability to comprehend a text book requirement and then by having her students play and rebuilt her instructions. Thru this way of community engagement, the literacy aspect of both UHD student and elementary kid played a key role in the implementation of literacy in UHD community engagement.

Another way literacy is practiced throughout community engagement in the University of Houston Downtown, is via digital literacy. In UHD, digital literacy is the most valuable resource students get to have. The ability to have free computers and WIFI, gives students the ability to perform tasks effectively which further on gives them the fastest tool to network, locate, evaluate and get updated on UHD needs within the community and their education. ("Digital Literacy Definition and Resources") Among the aspect of digital literacy in UHD, the main website which connects students with information and campus activities is Gator mail. Gator mail is the personalized email college students at the University of Houston Downtown use to email professors and receive the quickest information concerning school issues. With Gator mail in every students possession; students in campus are held informed on all events going on before and in future needs. Just recently, Gator Mail also made a huge impact within the campus. On April 15, 2016, UHD Gator mail, cast the elections to select the 2016-2017, Student Governments Association (SGA.), student body. In these elections, only UHD students had the opportunity to vote and elect the Student body government and as we all know; with the power of voting our students practiced the desire to express ideas and there concern. SGA has known to be the representative body for all UHD students. As seen within the Student Government Organization portal information, located in the home page,” SGA is responsible for nominating students to serve on university committees and advocating student concerns to university administration.” ("SGA 25 Apr. 2016") ; this signifies that the president and its team nominated; has the responsibility to be engaged in whatever concern students within campus need. Another reason why, Gator mail elections were important to the UHD community is because, the Student Government Association gets a large amount of money from the University. The president and their club members receive nearly around a $50,000 grant so that they can host events within every school year, and advocate students concerns. With that being said, this is just another way in which digital literacy has lead an impact for student’s future. Could you imagine the high impact this club gets? Now can you also imagine how hard it will be getting every students vote counted? Well now I guess, we can’t stop thanking Gator mail and UHD for offering digital tools in which students can practice a basic idea in literacy and that’s by voting.

A fourth way in which I have seen literacy manifest within UHD community engagement, is by allowing UHD students , the ability to work for a non-profit agency they have partnered with. Volunteer Houston for example, is a non-profit agency with a 41 year legacy that holds the main purpose to connect volunteers with all the Non-profit agencies and have them work on community affiliated causes. In this partnership, UHD students go to the Volunteer Houston offices, and help them assist the agencies in whatever is needed to be done within the Houston Community. From my personal experience, working at Volunteer Houston; manifested UHD mission of community engagement on a regular basis. For example, within the recent floods that occurred in our Houston Area, my Volunteer Houston team and I, were in charge of answering phone calls of local citizens affected by the horrible rains. Within the phone calls, my role in this organization was to provide our citizens with the much necessary information needed so they can have some sort of references to what could be in great use for the Houstonian effected by the severe thunderstorms; which had killed seven people, flooded 1000 homes and caused over $5 billion in damage. As a result, I believe there was much literacy practiced by the way, I had to present all the natural disaster resources to my community. I was receiving at least 30 calls an hour, with many of my Houstonians asking questions like, “I need roadside assistance, can you help me?”, or the, I need help finding my car?” In reference to my citizen’s needs, I also redirected them with shelters nearby there locations, that in most occasions, they didn’t even know about. At the end of the day, I was not only thanked by my boss, but I was also thanked by many of the citizens I helped during their struggle.

Furthermore, the actions of such strong passion for community engagement, has lead the University of Houston Downtown to receive National recognition. The University of Houston – Downtown, in January 2009 received, “The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Award”. This award recognized UHD, high action in Community Engagement and for its Outreach and Partnerships. As said by the Houston Chronicle, this award, “Is given too one of six institutions in the country that pursue and receive the voluntary classification. (2009, Jan 29)”. Surprisingly, these awards are only selected to institutions that as described on the Houston Chronicle website, “provide descriptions and examples of practices of community engagement that showed alignment among mission, culture, leadership, resources and practices.”( NewsBank. Web. 25 Apr. 2016). A second recognition that has also been awarded to the University of Houston –Downtown, is “The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)”. This recognition was named to our University President for its recognizable outreach efforts and thousands of hours held by our UHD students.

In conclusion, UHD is what their missions says they are. A leading institution that dedicates several hours to community engagement and with that as well practice the effect of literacy by first engaging the student in community projects by visual and digital so at the end they can collaborate with the Houston community.

Work Cited

University of, Houston-Downtown. "University of Houston-Downtown Receives National Recognition for Community Service." Business Wire (English) 3: Regional Business News. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

"UH-Downtown nets classification." Houston Chronicle (TX) 29 Jan. 2009: 3. NewsBank. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

"Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning (CCESL) | Major Opportunities at the University of Houston-Downtown." Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning (CCESL) | Major Opportunities at the University of Houston-Downtown. UHD.EDU, 21 Jan. 2016. Web. 21 Apr. 2016

"Digital Literacy Definition And Resources". Library.illinois.edu. N.p., 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016."SGA". Orgsync.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

("About CCESL | Major Opportunities At The University Of Houston-Downtown")

"UH-Downtown nets classification." Houston Chronicle (TX) 29 Jan. 2009, 3 STAR, THISWEEK: 3. NewsBank. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.