Ripon College Days

Media Credit: Photo submitted Team effort. Service Learning Coordinator Kate Hersey (top left) works with Ripon High School and Ripon College students to load a semi truck that took hurricane relief supplies to Opelousas, La. [Click to enlarge]

Bridging the gap between the college and the community has been a goal for college officials for years, an effort for which the college has recently been recognized.

The students, faculty and administration of the college are actively working, perhaps now more than ever before, to bridge the small geographic divide between Ripon the town and Ripon the college.

One of the more visible examples of late was this month's media conference. While a number of students and faculty came to the events, the audience was comprised of an equally large number of community members.

"I was amazed at how many people came out for [the conference]," says Mary Avery, director of the Business Administration program. "Now that they've been on campus, maybe they'll come back for a concert or some other event. People are crazy not to take advantage of that."

The Ripon Chamber of Commerce recently awarded their annual Large Business Award to the college. The chamber praised the college's community outreach-including an open door for campus events, faculty involvement on community councils and committees, monthly informational sessions and student volunteerism-and complimented President Joyce for increasing Ripon's longstanding presence within the town.

"We just try to maximize our contact with the college as much as possible because we benefit from it and we hope the college does as well," says Paula Price, executive director of the chamber. "We really feel a lot of [the college's increased town presence] trickles down from Dr. Joyce...being part of the community is a priority for him."

Joyce is not alone in wanting to promote the college's interaction with the surrounding area.

The College Community Relations Committee, a group of college and community members that acts as a discussion forum and information exchange, has recently been revitalized as an important means of local communication.

In the committee, community officials join with college administrators to discuss new ways to collaborate.

The quest for interface exists at another level, as well. Programs such as Ripon Community Action Network (CAN) and the Community Service Coalition (CSC) promote volunteerism, while courses such as Avery's non-profit business management require service learning engagement.

Ripon CAN's Service Learning Coordinators Kate Hersey and Charles Oberweiser are working to expand service learning in and out of the classroom. The Bonner Program was established this year, providing students with scholarships to commit 300 hours per calendar year to volunteer activities.

"Our Bonner students have been a catalyst to help us expand what we're doing," says Oberweiser. "We're really trying to focus on community engagement in every form it takes."

For its part, CSC aims to get student volunteers involved at the organizational level. "I want to encourage students to really have ownership over the activities," says Jessica Joanis, program coordinator. CSC is currently planning new programs for the town's elderly.

Avery promotes engagement through her course, in which students undertake a business project with a non-profit of their choice.

"Students do service learning very spontaneously, very naturally and very much on their own, and it only made sense to incorporate service learning in the classroom because it's such a win-win for everyone," says Avery.

Although both college and town seem eager to collaborate, an extra push may be required to get students off campus more.

"The town is really nice and takes care of college students," says senior Tanya Garrett. "I'm always on campus because I don't have a personal connection in town; everything I need is right here, but the community is willing."

The two entities will continue to work collaboratively to better Ripon's status as a college town. While most view the current relationship as largely positive, there's always room for improvement.

"There's always a temptation for colleges and universities to think of themselves as an ivory tower," concludes Oberweiser. "We're trying to say there is no ivory tower. At the college we can't forget that our students are part of that larger community."

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