%0 Thesis %1 lelle_community_1996 %A Lelle, Mark Allen %D 1996 %K ADMINISTRATION EDUCATION, Higher, %T The community service mission of the private liberal arts college: A study at Albion College %X This study addresses the community service mission of the private liberal arts college in three ways: A review of literature about the history of the service mission; a review of the Albion College literature; and a survey of Albion College faculty and administrators (N = 250) to determine their attitudes toward a community service mission. The review of literature demonstrates that private liberal arts colleges have always provided a decidedly public service by educating citizens for a democracy. They have also provided valuable services to the communities in which they are located. Many private liberal arts colleges have lost sight of their "service" origins and now focus on providing a classical education for young people. Thus, what was once "means" is now "end." The Albion College survey revealed variability among respondents regarding their attitudes toward the community service mission. Marital status, children in public schools, type of position and seniority at Albion College, charitable giving, and perceptions of the community influenced respondents' attitudes toward the community service mission. Respondents who were more "connected" to the community (i.e., who were married, had children in the public schools, and gave money to local charitable organizations) were more likely to support a community service mission. Home ownership, residence in the community, and volunteer service did not affect respondents' attitudes. Administrators were more positive about the contributions of faculty and students than were faculty. However, faculty and respondents with four to twelve years of seniority were more supportive of allowing community access to college facilities, as were respondents who believed the community was an adequate or supportive environment for the college. The implications include: (1) It is possible to "build" a faculty that is more supportive of a community service mission; (2) colleges can expose staff to the community service traditions of their institutions; (3) colleges need staff with community development expertise; (4) a community service mission can be an effective recruitment tool; (5) service-learning practitioners need knowledge of the principles of community development; and (6) research is need to identify the full range of potential community service activities available to private liberal arts colleges.

@phdthesis{lelle_community_1996, abstract = {This study addresses the community service mission of the private liberal arts college in three ways: A review of literature about the history of the service mission; a review of the Albion College literature; and a survey of Albion College faculty and administrators (N = 250) to determine their attitudes toward a community service mission. The review of literature demonstrates that private liberal arts colleges have always provided a decidedly public service by educating citizens for a democracy. They have also provided valuable services to the communities in which they are located. Many private liberal arts colleges have lost sight of their "service" origins and now focus on providing a classical education for young people. Thus, what was once "means" is now "end." The Albion College survey revealed variability among respondents regarding their attitudes toward the community service mission. Marital status, children in public schools, type of position and seniority at Albion College, charitable giving, and perceptions of the community influenced respondents' attitudes toward the community service mission. Respondents who were more "connected" to the community (i.e., who were married, had children in the public schools, and gave money to local charitable organizations) were more likely to support a community service mission. Home ownership, residence in the community, and volunteer service did not affect respondents' attitudes. Administrators were more positive about the contributions of faculty and students than were faculty. However, faculty and respondents with four to twelve years of seniority were more supportive of allowing community access to college facilities, as were respondents who believed the community was an adequate or supportive environment for the college. The implications include: (1) It is possible to "build" a faculty that is more supportive of a community service mission; (2) colleges can expose staff to the community service traditions of their institutions; (3) colleges need staff with community development expertise; (4) a community service mission can be an effective recruitment tool; (5) service-learning practitioners need knowledge of the principles of community development; and (6) research is need to identify the full range of potential community service activities available to private liberal arts colleges.}, added-at = {2018-06-19T15:20:34.000+0200}, author = {Lelle, Mark Allen}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2203f948607c0dcd12a56f3025c5164ed/prophe}, interhash = {2c9b1a2626814b994729f90e547e06a7}, intrahash = {203f948607c0dcd12a56f3025c5164ed}, keywords = {ADMINISTRATION EDUCATION, Higher,}, school = {Michigan State University}, shorttitle = {The community service mission of the private liberal arts college: {A} study at {Albion} {College}}, timestamp = {2018-06-19T15:20:34.000+0200}, title = {The community service mission of the private liberal arts college: {A} study at {Albion} {College}}, type = {{PhD} {Thesis}}, year = 1996 }