‘UR Here’ Helps Students Find Their Direction
College Dean of Students Jody Asbury says that undergraduates seem to live on an island—"They can be isolated here, with the river on one side and the cemetery on the other," she says-but there's a remedy for that.
To get students more involved with nearby Rochester communities, and at the same time develop their own talents and leadership skills, the College last fall kicked off UR Here, a program six years in the making that encourages community involvement.
Drawing on the Rochester Curriculum, the program provides volunteer opportunities and internships that get students out into the Rochester community.
"College learning does not stop at the classroom door," says Dean of the College William Scott Green. "We want to encourage and enable Rochester students to become civic-minded so they can help give shape to the community in which we all learn and live."
Keisha Rolle '08, a participant in the Urban Fellows internship program, says that her experience helping to coordinate children's afternoon and evening programs at Sojourner House opened her eyes to Rochester residents' lives. "I come from New York City, and when I came to Rochester I didn't think of it as a city. This program opened my eyes to the urban problems that are here, too."
“We want to encourage and enable Rochester students to become civic-minded so they can help give shape to the community in which we all learn and live.”
—Green
In January, the Office of the Dean of Students established the Rochester Center for Community Leadership, which organizes internships like the Urban Fellows and Corporate Fellows programs, volunteer opportunities like the Jumpstart tutoring program and Wilson Day, and leadership workshops. The center also provides opportunities to enjoy the city's social and cultural offerings, including the Rochester Every Day student discount program and bus lines, and Fashionably Late events at various Rochester locations.
"It's a win-win situation," Asbury says. "Students hone their leadership skills, give something to the community, and get a chance to explore an interest they have a passion for, while the Rochester community benefits from the students' talents."
And if the students establish connections with the community, she says, they just might be more inclined to stay in the city after they graduate—something Rochester city leaders would like to see.
Interest is high and keeps growing, Asbury says. The Jumpstart tutoring program doubled its enrollment in one year, and students have logged 30,000 hours of community service overall. The Rochester community is excited about the programs as well-more businesses and government offices are contacting the University, she says, and even small businesses are creating internships for students.
Asbury says, "This principle of engagement makes communities stronger. We teach the students to 'love what you learn and give where you live,' and when they do, they become better leaders. And that's something they'll use throughout their lives."
"We're here to help," Rolle says, "but to also receive help as well. You learn from each other."
