Siena University

Siena College Is a Coeducational, Independent Liberal Arts College in the Catholic and Franciscan Tradition. the Mission of the College Is to Create a Learning Community That Is Student-centered and Fosters Rigorous Intellectual Development Through a Healthy Exchange of Ideas Both Inside and Outside the Classroom. Siena College Is Guided by the Teachings of ST. Francis of Assisi, Specifically, Service With the Poor and Marginalized; This Is at the Heart of Our Definition of Community Engagement. the Connecting of Academics and Community Engagement Distinguishes Siena College From Other Colleges in the Area and Positions Our Institution to Establish Reciprocal Relationships With Economically and Socially Disadvantaged Communities. in 2008, the Center of Academic Community Engagement (ace), Was Established on Campus With the Goal of Developing a Bridge Between the Community and Campus Resources for the Fight Against Poverty in the Capital Region. to Partner With the Community in This Fight, Ace Has Implemented 8 Programs in Addition to Americorps Vista Including: -bonner Service Leaders Undergraduates Utilize Their Academic Talents to Lead Community Change Through Direct Service. -community Engaged Teaching and Learning Faculty Assist With Community Partner Relations and Foster Student and Community Partner Training and Development. -community Policy Institute Fellows Track Policy Changes and Progress and the Resulting Effect on the Residents of the Capital Region. This Information Is Then Shared With Non-profit Organizations Who Can Use It to Impact the Community. -dake/stewart's Shops Fellowships Undergraduates and Postgraduates Identify a Community Challenge, Study It, and Spend a Year Addressing That Challenge Through Research and Service With a Capital Region Community Organization. -global Service Internships Undergraduates Travel Abroad and Spend Their Summer Conducting Rural-public Health Outreach and English Language Teaching. -next Fellows Teams of Students, Faculty, and Community Members Work to Support Community-based Non-profits by Providing Business, Operations, and Program Consulting Services. -partnering Leaders and Youth Siena's Division 1 Athletes Apply Their Passion for Social Good by Serving With a Community Partner That Focuses on Mentoring Youth Through Sport. -summer Service Scholars Undergraduates Take a Summer Class Which Examines the Root Causes of Poverty and Best Practices in Community Development as They Provide Direct Service With a Non-profit Organization. Our Siena College Americorps Vista Fellows Program Serves Alongside and Supports the Efforts of These and Other Programs to Coordinate Efforts That Seek to Eradicate Poverty in the Capital Region. the Service of the Vista Fellows Include: Program Development and Sustainability, Volunteer Recruitment and Management, Development of Community Partner Relationships, the Coordination of Needs Assessments, and Program Implementation and Coordination. Our Program Places Fellows Both On-campus and in the Community. On-campus Vista Fellows Serve With a Particular Office or Department to Build the Capacity of the Office to Address Poverty in Our Community. These Vista Fellows Are Trained to Build Bridges Between the Office They Serve and Community Partner Agencies. Resource Development, Volunteer Development, Program Development, Development of Community-based Research and Service-learning Capabilities Are the Primary Activities of These Vistas. Off-campus Vista Fellows Are Placed in a Community Partner Agency That Has Developed a Plan Outlining an Increasingly Sophisticated Partnership Between Them and Ace Through the Vista Placement. All Vista Placements Are Part of a Three-year Planning Process and Are Outlined in the Design of a Vad (vista Assignment Description) for a Potential Vista Placement. the Vista Fellows Function as a Community-wide Team: They Meet Collectively at Least Once Per Month to Report Progress a