CSU is represented in Campus Compact, which promotes and inspires service learning through its member institutions and its state networks. More recently, the America Reads and America Counts initiatives have enabled CSU universities to direct Federal Work-Study funds to eligible students for tutoring service to children. In July 1999, three CSU system presidents, Robert Corrigan of San Francisco State University, Peter Smith of CSU Monterey Bay, and John Welty of CSU Fresno, met in Aspen, Colorado with other higher education leaders. The focus of the meeting was to consider the civic mission of American higher education and the leaders' responsibilities to enhance that mission, particularly on their own campuses. While the 1997 CSU Community Service-Learning Strategic Plan is not yet fully implemented, the CSU is now planning how its institutions can be more completely engaged in the civic life of their communities.
Community engagement has two closely related dimensions.
The first is the responsibility to prepare students to be fully involved citizens of their communities, with the knowledge, skills, and values to help those communities improve. The second is the responsibility as institutions to be deeply engaged in assisting the communities to meet their needs and challenges. The Advisory Group intends to strengthen civic engagement of CSU institutions in the service of our communities and the State and raise the CSU system as a model of civic engagement for the nation. During the next few months, the Advisory Group will help guide CSU in implementing a new strategy that encompasses these objectives, with community service learning and community service continuing in the center of our efforts. The assessment indicators in the Aspen Declaration will shape the goals of expansion and addition of curricula, programs and community engagement opportunities on each of the campuses.