Bridges to Success
Center for Community Research at the University of Indianapolis
Community Service Learning Program
International Service Learning Program
The Wheeler Arts Academy
Indianapolis Community Research Center
Laurelwood Partnership
Volunteers In Service (VIS)
Fountain
Square Center Partnership
Wheeler Arts Community
(WAC)
Through the efforts of the CPC, the University of Indianapolis serves as a community partner in the Bridges to Success (BTS) programs of Indianapolis Public Elementary Schools 20 and 64, and IPS Middle School #72. BTS is an initiative of the United Way of Central Indiana and Indianapolis Public Schools that works to create successful students through enduring family, school, and community partnerships. The CPC also supports the student-run chapter of College Mentors for Kids! (a mentor programs with IPS 20 and 64).
The Center for Community Research serves the university and community by engaging in a variety of research services. In addition to providing students with opportunities to participate in actual research projects, the Center conducts surveys, program evaluations and other research endeavors on behalf of government agencies, community programs, government and community agencies, neighborhood groups and University programs. Current projects include a large scale process, empowerment, and outcome evaluation of a new public housing project development of a cost-benefit analysis of a criminal justice program, and evaluation of the effectiveness of an area community court.
The Community Programs Center is a resource center for service learning courses offered by various academic units for community outreach opportunities. It provides materials and workshops on service learning to faculty and staff. It schedules and offers community service learning courses, publicizes community service learning opportunities to the campus community and even coordinates and publicizes grants available for service learning activities. The CPC also coordinates the minor in “Civic Engagement and Community Leadership”.
This program offers international service learning courses and experiences. It publicizes international service learning opportunities and promotes service learning on UIndy branch campuses in Athens (Greece), Nicosia (Cyprus), and Ibillin (Israel).
The mission of the Wheeler Arts Academy of the University of Indianapolis, Community Programs Center, is to provide opportunities in Visual and Performing Arts to disadvantaged Youth of the Southeast Neighborhood Area of Indianapolis. By location at the Wheeler Arts Community, the Academy is cradled in an active environment that offers both visual and performing arts experiences. The arts program outreach has also included on-site locations at two area middle schools. The Academy faculty consists of artists/instructors from both the Wheeler Arts Community, the University of Indianapolis and from the surrounding area. Assistants are predominantly service-learning or volunteer students from the University of Indianapolis. As grant funding permits, programs are developed to include after-school and Saturday classes that invite parent participation. Art camps are also planned to coincide with Indianapolis Public School breaks. The curriculum is based on Indiana educational standards for middle school theatre and visual arts. Both visual and performance art components culminate in public presentation of work at the end of the semester of study, which includes theatrical performances and visual art exhibitions.
The purpose of the Indianapolis Community Research Center is to support the need of neighborhood organizations for well-designed data collection, storage, and evaluation, as well as serve as an educational facility for university and community members in research and evaluation design.
The CPC oversees the UIndy partnership with the Laurelwood Apartments (an Indianapolis Housing Agency Community) and the Baxter Branch of the Indianapolis YMCA. The program provides weekly youth programs to resident children ages 6-16 conducted by UIndy student volunteers and service learning students.
The Laurelwood Partnership was established in 1995 and continues to provide rich learning experiences and wonderful friendships for Laurelwood residents and university students alike.
In addition to youth programming, UIndy is involved with Laurelwood through classroom projects, grant writing proposals, student service group efforts, and graduate student assistance. For more information please contact Toni Peabody, MSW, Faculty Advisor, 788-3482.
The VIS program seeks out exciting volunteer opportunities and publicizes the opportunities to the campus community. The CPC/VIS program also coordinates the cataloging of individual student volunteer hours for transcript notation. Finally, the CPC/VIS program oversees the selection and recognition of the annual Student Volunteer Awards (undergraduate and graduate).
© University of Indianapolis • 1400 East Hanna Avenue • Indianapolis, Indiana 46227 • U.S.A.
(317) 788-3368 • 800-232-8634 • www.uindy.edu/cpc • commprograms@uindy.edu
