The USC Coordinating Office for Community Engagement and Service (COCES) has been established as a central coordinating portal through which faculty, staff, students, and those external to the campus can enhance their current community engagement and service activities as well as provide guidance and assistance in initiating new activities.
The University describes community engagement as opportunities to partner with our various communities for the mutual benefit of both. This benefit typically involves a reciprocal exchange of knowledge and resources, and leads to activities and initiatives that can address significant societal issues that ultimately contribute to the public good.
Various types of community-engaged activities serve integrally-related functions, including the enhancement of teaching and learning, research, scholarship, and creative activities.
COCES is responsible for:
- Facilitating the scope and depth of university engagement and service efforts
- Serving as an initial point of contact for faculty, staff, and external parties who wish to either enhance their current engagement and service initiatives or develop new partnerships.
- Documenting and making available to the university’s various publics the impact of its community engagement and service efforts.
- Assisting in developing reward and recognition structures and standards for faculty, staff, and student participation in community engagement and service, including such for departmental criteria for promotion and tenure
News from the COCES
Carolina Nexus
The inaugural Carolina Nexus Bus Tour took place between May 14th and May 18th with stops at a number of sites in the Midlands, Upstate, Low Country, and the Pee Dee. A select number of photographs from the tour serve to highlight some of the participants’ experiences.
Getting up close and personal with a fighter jet
This small bomb is really heavy
Can we both fit into the cockpit?
Walking through Congaree National Park
How tall is this tree . . . really!
The Atrium of the Health Sciences building is awesome
The new wonders of medical technology
Learning before the boat excursion
Moving on board
Disembarking to Fort Sumter
On the ground at Fort Sumter
Experiencing the Charleston City Hall Chambers
Visiting the Slave Mart Museum
Historian Rick Hatcher at Fort Moultrie
A needed distraction after a busy day
The form is good but what about the results?
As always, conversations aplenty
Looking forward to dinner on Shem Creek
Visiting Hobcaw Barony
Getting vibes from Churchill’s chair
Getting a lesson at Baruch Institute
Visiting North Mullins Primary School
It’s nice to entertain the kids
Really getting into it
We’re ALL friends with Cocky
Taking an after-lunch break at Webster’s Manor
Experiencing a humorous Tobacco Museum presentation
Lots of stuff in the Tobacco Museum
Relaxing after the tour
COCES Community Engagement Survey
The COCES has recently developed an on-line survey to obtain information about university community engagement and service initiatives. Results of the survey produced some interesting findings
COCES Leadership Council
The 2011-2012 COCES Leadership Council, comprising a number of USC faculty members and staff, was charged with helping to address a number of questions related to an operational plan of action for the Coordinating Office for Community Engagement and Service. Two concept papers were submitted: one focusing on proposed functions and structure of the Office and the other on recognition and reward structures for faculty involved in community-engaged scholarship initiatives.
