"If you have a university in your community, the first question you should be asking when a problem surfaces is,
I wonder how our university can help us."
— Michael G. Gartner, Keynote Speaker
International Town and Gown Association's Annual Conference
In 2013, West Chester University announced its plan for the next decade in a document entitled, "Building on Excellence," to strengthen campus understanding of the meaning and value of external engagement and its impact on student learning and academic excellence. The Center for Community Solutions (CCS) is a community-university partnership and has been created to formally expand upon the positive impact the university has already had in the community. These collaborations will extend the University's impact within its home region, attract new resources to advance learning and community well-being, and focus on the pursuit of the public good.
Our mission is:
- To facilitate university and community connections as a single point of contact
- To connect campus resources with community needs
- To promote the professional expertise of our faculty and staff to external clients as requested across a range of business areas and topics
- To provide opportunities for students to develop and apply their problem solving skills while enhancing their educational experience
The specific objectives that follow from our mission are:
- To promote the university's faculty, staff, and student capabilities to the community-at-large
- To establish an Advisory Board of local community partners to guide the Center's growth
- To match faculty and students with community needs based upon appropriate vetting of requests from CCS staff and Steering Committee
Our clients include:
- Businesses and corporations
- Nonprofit organizations
- Educational institutions
- Government agencies
- Municipal governments
We provide these services by:
Examples of services provided are:
- Surveys
- Economic development and impact studies
- Consultation
- Transportation solutions
- Translation services
- GIS services
- Community health initiatives
- Web site development
- Strategic planning and development
- Small course design services
Community Engagements
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2nd Century Alliance of Coatesville
ABC Early Learning Center
Action Potential
AlottaJava
American Helicopter Museum
Auble Financial
Baroni Estate Planning and Elder Law
Biotelemetry, Inc.
Birthday Boy Parties
Borough of West Chester
Brandywine Ingredients
Brandywine Valley SPCA
Bridge of Hope
Caln Township
Carrie Casin's Dog Grooming
Cedarville Engineering Group
Chester County 2020
Chester County Association for the Blind
Chester County Balloon Festival
Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry
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Chester County Community Collaborative
span>Chester County Consortium of Managers
Chester County Department of Community Development
Chester County Department of Aging Services
Chester County Department of Emergency Services
Chester County Drug and Alcohol Services
Chester County Hospital
Chester County Health Department
Chester County Historical Society
Chester County Immunization Coalition
Chester County Infant and Toddler Program
City of Coatesville
Chester County School Nurses Association
Chester County Juvenile Probation Department
Chester County Sports Hall of Fame
Chester County Township Managers
Clinical Hypnosis for Wellness
Coatesville Community Education Foundation
Community Warehouse Project
Daemion Counseling Center
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Discovery by You
Diplomat Closet Design Company
Downingtown Area School District
Downingtown Area Senior Center
East Bradford Township
EcoBuilt Efficient Building
Family & Community Partnership of Chester County
Franklin Institute
Freire Charter School
Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children
Friends of Carolyn Comitta
Friends of Chester Valley Trails
God Bodies Fitness Center
Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce
Growth Dynamics
Hagley Museum and Library
Home of the Sparrow
Horsepower for Life
KALY Clothing
Kennett Area Park Authority
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Kennett Township
Knauer Performing Arts
Krapf Bus Companies
Life Long Learning Program
Local Yoga Cafe
Lower Merion Township
Main Line Health
March Forward Consulting
Mascot History Project
McDonald Conceptual Design Services
Melton Arts & Education Center
Omega Design
Overbrook High School
Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Pipeline Safety Coalition
Pop in Kids Club
Restart Your Life/Renew Your Mind
Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School
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Robyn Jewitt Home
Rustin High School
Schmata Productions and Community Youth Theater
School Nurses Association
Schuylkill Highlands Conservation
SCORE - Chester and Delaware County
Sierra Club
SOS Group, Inc.
Spectrum Financial Group
St. Maximilian Kolbe School
The Francis Group
Tasty Table Catering
The League of Women Voters of Chester County PA
The Main Line Chamber of Commerce
Think 3 Marketing
Transportation Management Association of Chester County
UPTOWN! Entertainment Alliance
UPTOWN! Knauer Peforming Arts Center
VISTA Today
Westminster Presbyterian Church
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West Chester Area School District
West Chester Business Innovation Board
West Chester Borough Planning Commission
West Chester Borough Police Department
West Chester Dance Works
West Chester Film Festival
West Chester Food Co-op
West Chester Food Cupboard
West Chester Historic Commission
West Chester Mayor's Office
West Chester Rotary Club
West Chester Sports Association
West Chester Sunrise Rotary Club
West Chester Sustainability Committee
West Chester University Women's Commission
West Whiteland Township
Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce
Westtown Township
Westtown-Goshen Rotary Club
Women's Self Care Program
YMWIC Foundation, Inc.
Contact Information
To learn more about the CCS and how West Chester University can work together with your organization, contact:
