Oakland University, in partnership with Campus Compact and more than 350 presidents and chancellors from across higher education, has pledged to increase its focus on civic engagement for the benefit of students and communities.
Campus Compact, a non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, announced its Action Statement during a Summit of Presidents and Chancellors on March 20 at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.
President George W. Hynd signed the Campus Compact 30th Anniversary Action Statement, a document containing strong language about the public obligations of higher education that commits campuses to taking specific steps to deepen their engagement for the benefit of students, communities, and the broader public.
“The Campus Compact Action Statement is a program that links hundreds of higher education institutions for the common goal of strengthening the public responsibilities of higher education,” said Hynd. “It also ties in nicely with one of our three strategic goals that outlines our commitment to the Pontiac community, our work in Macomb County and our ties to other local communities.”
The strategic goal Dr. Hynd references states that Oakland University will “Become a leader in serving the needs and aspirations of our communities and region through expanded community relationships, institutional reputation and visibility, and engagement.”
Provost James P. Lentini represented Oakland University at the summit on March 20 in Boston to celebrate the launch of the call to action.
Kevin J. Corcoran, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, is also attending conference programming this week in Boston in support of the effort on behalf of OU. He will work with the president and provost and others to create a Campus Civic Action Plan to be shared publicly. Campus Compact will then support campuses in developing these plans.
"Colleges and universities exist to promote public goods," said Campus Compact president Andrew Seligsohn. "By signing the Action Statement and committing to develop Campus Civic Action Plans, these 350 presidents and chancellors are challenging their institutions to go even further in preparing students for lives of engaged citizenship, contributing to the health of communities both local and global, and sustaining our democracy in the face of the twin challenges of inequality and polarization."
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About Campus Compact: 
Campus Compact is a nonprofit coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents— representing some 6 million students—who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education. As the only national association dedicated to this mission, Campus Compact is a leader in building community engagement into campus and academic life. For more information, visit www.compact.org or follow @Campus_Compact on Twitter.
About The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate:
The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities.