"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:
- Partnering with the Deans of the Colleges and Administration
- Partnering with the Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact
- Partnering with the Dr. Edwin Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center
- Engaging students
Examples of services provided are:
- Community health initiatives
- Consultation
- Economic development and impact studies
- GIS services
- Marketing
- Small course design services
- Social Media Services
- Strategic planning and development
- Surveys
- Transportation solutions
- Translation services
- Web site development
Community Engagements
Student Highlight
Maria Morresi – Major, Geography; Anticipated Graduation, December, 2021, Accelerated Masters Program
Through the CCS, Maria has been working with West Vincent Township and the Natural
Lands Trust. In 2019, Maria assisted West Vincent Township in converting historic
files onto a digital platform. Stemming from that partnership and work, Maria is currently
collaborating with the Natural Lands Trust and Tookany/Tacony Frankford Watershed
Partnership, Inc. on map creation for a Tacony Creek Park Philadelphia Master Plan.
These maps will be a vital component of the Master Plan toward clarifying and emphasizing
the critical role of the Tacony Creek Park to the health and well-being of the local
community. Maria has notably demonstrated talent, skills, and education through this
valuable community engagement and is grateful for these opportunities and partnerships.