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Otterbein College InVesting in Communities (O-CIVIC)

This grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service is allowing Otterbein to further expand and refine its community service initiatives. External community partnership-building efforts exemplify Otterbein's best in creating sustainable, reciprocal and mutually beneficial outreach and engagement that brings together community leaders, parents, non-profit agencies, our city schools, faculty members, engaged departments, and our students.

• Enhancing program at a local middle school program which shows students that attaining higher education is possible, no matter their race or income level.
• Offering 20 service-learning courses in the fall quarter at Otterbein for a total enrollment of 333 students. Service-learning has become an increasingly supported and encouraged course delivery option at Otterbein.
• Expanding the SAIL (Summer Academy for Integrated Learning) program, a three-week summer academy that offers approximately 100 middle schoolers the opportunity to participate in an exemplary middle school setting that will enhance their academic achievement and attitude toward learning.
• Expanding of our partnership with Westerville Public Schools by founding the new Genoa Creative Literacy Alliance. Genoa Middle School teachers and administrators, guidance counselors and students have formed a community alliance with Otterbein English Department faculty and undergraduate students to provide creative literacy programming for at-risk and traditional students and their parents at this increasingly diverse school. Poetry circles for students, a creative literacy festival for students and their parents, and professional development for in-service teachers are planned.
• Training thirty-six Otterbein faculty members in partnership development, syllabus design, and reflection techniques.

For more information about Service-Learning at Otterbein see the Center for Community Engagement site.