CACC Programs » IDEAS Program

Initiatives on Diversity, Equity and Service

funded by the James Irvine Foundation; administered by CACC

Project Summary

Community/University IDEAS: Initiatives on Diversity, Equity And Service was a project for California independent colleges and universities and their students, faculty and communities focusing on the integration of diversity education and service learning. It consisted of two initiatives:

1. The development of a supportive network of diversity and service learning educators whose activities include planning an institute that was held in June 2002; and
2. A Research Study that was conducted between September 2001 and February 2002.

Description of the IDEAS (Network) Program

Six campuses were selected to participate in this year-long program. In addition to monthly networking meetings, representatives from these institutions planned an institute developing strategies to effectively integrate service-learning and diversity on their campuses, and created models for their institutions. The institute was held June 10-12, 2002 in San Diego, California.

Outcomes

1. Communication and teamwork among practitioners of service learning and diversity education towards future integration of both approaches in learning,
2. Developing strategies to engage staff, faculty, students, and community partners in dialogue regarding the intellectual and academic issues of diversity and their relationship to courses and the broader community,
3. Exploring effective integration of service learning in courses to address issues around diversity, multiculturalism, equity, civic engagement and service,
4. The formation of campus and community action plans to integrate diversity and service learning efforts in their regions and on their campuses, and encourage collaborative efforts between and across institutions and communities, and
5. Developing strategies for evaluating the impact of service learning in relation to diversity on students, faculty, staff, the institution, community, society, etc.

IDEAS institute campus teams

Azusa Pacific University, California Lutheran University, Mills College, Notre Dame de Namur University, University of San Diego, and University of the Pacific.

Description of the Research Study

Through a research study (consisting of a case study of four independent institutions regarding their experiences around integrating service learning and diversity) both CACC and the James Irvine Foundation gained a better sense of strategies needed to integrate service learning and diversity in California’s independent institutions of higher education.

Lead Researcher: Dr. Lori Vogelgesang, UCLA

The main research question for this study was:
How is higher education integrating diversity and service learning?

Full Report

The full report of the IDEAS program, including the research findings, are available at our website in the Resource » Publications section.