I called and sent new surveys to the administrators who had not responded. I analyze the content of mission statements to examine how community colleges perceive their role in their community. SPSS will be used to analyze quantitative survey data. The analysis of mission statements reveals that community colleges define service differently. For example, although the mission or goals of their college explicitly mention community service, several respondents stated that service was not part of their mission.
Community colleges engage in many forms of service.
All community colleges were more likely to engage in services, such as hosting community events or providing meeting space for community groups that required less institutional support and fewer resources. This study will show how community colleges in New York State understand their institutional mission and engage in different forms of community service. Specifically, it will reveal to what extent and in what ways they use service-learning to fulfill their mission. Community college administrators can use the results of this study to assess the ways in which their colleges are or are not fulfilling their civic responsibility. The findings will allow ICCD, Campus Compact, AACC, and other organizations to provide the resources and support that community colleges need to begin, sustain, and strengthen service-learning initiatives.