College Nine’s theme of International and Global Perspectives recognizes the importance of cultural competency in the 21st century. The College Nine community offers students a range of opportunities to explore these issues and to develop skills as dynamic leaders.
College Ten’s theme is Social Justice and Community. Our corresponding motto is “justice for all.” Through the frosh seminar, optional workshops, and co-curricular activities, we pay special attention to individuals and groups who are denied opportunities offered to more privileged members of society. Some of the issues we consider are racism, sexism, ageism, and other forms of discrimination. Other matters that are addressed include poverty, greed, ethnic hatreds, violence against the queer community, and environmental injustices.
In addition to the College Nine and Ten themes, we have organizations that are available for students–ENGAGE, College Ten Student Government, and Praxis. The colleges also offer credit options that take students off campus, such as Esprit de Corps and Alternative Spring Break. Community involvement is emphasized as a means of addressing social justice issues. Students interested in these issues as their major area of study or as part of their general education are encouraged to explore these opportunities as they develop skills to become our future leaders.
Students who are seeking hands on service-learning experiences can get involved in three ways:
Praxis
A community service organization for students from College Nine and College Ten primarily directed at first year students. Each month Praxis students engage in a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout Santa Cruz County. Examples include volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Save Our Shores, GreyBears, the Homeless Garden Project and Gault Elementary School.
Esprit de Corps (CLTE 110/B)
Esprit de Corps provides college members an opportunity to apply their academic learning in a practical setting in the community. Students earn academic credit by volunteering in a nonprofit agency or school for four hours a week for two credits (CLTE 110B) or 10 hours a week for five credits (CLTE 110). Students are supervised by a professional on site and attend weekly class meetings. During the class meetings students reflect upon their individual experiences with fellow students, listen to local leaders from the community, read articles on relevant social justice issues such as education inequality, poverty, and homelessness, and complete a final project related to their service learning placement. Placements include an elementary school, the Boys and Girls Club, a soup kitchen, homeless service agencies, and an organization working with the elderly.
Alternative Spring Break
The Alternative Spring Break (ASB) class allows for a more comprehensive understanding of global and local issues in a supportive, diverse, and group-oriented environment. In the past, students have traveled to Mexico and New Orleans to partner with local organizations in the construction and rebuilding of homes. Most recently, students have focused on the issue of food justice in our local community with a series of hands on projects in Live Oak and Watsonville.
Students who participate in this programming have higher levels of academic determination and diverse citizenship (openness to others’ ideas and perspectives, and belief that one can make a difference in the world) compared to those who do not participate in this programming. These students also have higher GPAs if they take the class after their first year of college, report more interactions with faculty, more multicultural competencies, and more gains in foundational college competencies (e.g., critical thinking, oral communication, research) compared to those who have not taken these classes.