Five students holding up blanket they made for event, 1 student sitting below them with arms crossed, looking at camera

Dr. Kathrine S. Conway-Turner Office of Civic and Community Engagement History

Buffalo State's dedication to community engagement can be traced back to its origins in 1871 as a normal school focused on training teachers to positively impact the world. Over its 150-year history, Buffalo State has transformed into a comprehensive master’s degree-granting institution, witnessing a parallel growth in community partnerships and collaborations alongside its academic programs. 

Currently, the CCE anchors and leads Buffalo State's extensive connections and partnerships in our local and regional community. The CCE plays a central role in coordinating and advancing the institution's commitment as an anchor institution committed to contributing to the success and wellbeing of the city of Buffalo. 

 

Brief history of the CCE (2003-2013): 

  • 2003: Creation of the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center (VSLC). 
  • 2004: First service-learning courses supported and inaugural faculty fellows program held 
  • 2007: Buffalo State is recognized on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the first of eight times through 2015, when the process ends.  
  • 2009: SUNY recognizes Buffalo State with an Outstanding Student Affairs Program award. 
  • 2009: The President’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Engagement is created to recognize students who have completed at least 200 hours of community engagement during their college career.  
  • 2010: Buffalo State establishes the Alternative Break program. AB proceeds to engage 370 students in 39 community-based trips, focused on addressing social justice issues throughout the US and the local community.  
  • 2011: SUNY recognizes Buffalo State with an Outstanding SUNY Service-Learning Program award and Buffalo State President's Council for Equity & Campus Diversity recognizes the Refugee Awareness Project: The World at Our Doorstep. 
  • 2011: Buffalo State Senate passes Service-Learning Designation policy. 
  • 2012: Dr. Gary Welborn, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, and founding Faculty Coordinator for Service-Learning was recognized as one of four finalists for the Campus Compact Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award.
  • 2013: Edgar H. Turkle International Volunteer and Service-Learning Scholarship is created to provide support for Buffalo State student participation in international service-learning or volunteer experiences, particularly in developing countries. Mr. Turkle and other donors have provided $29,474 to 57 students since 2013.
Student participating at the event, while writing on paper

Brief history of the CCE (2014-Present): 

  • 2014: Student leaders help to create the Alternative Break Scholarship. Through the students’ leadership, over $10,000 and 20 students have been awarded scholarships.
  • 2015: Buffalo State receives the Carnegie Foundation Elective Community Engagement Classification. 
  • 2016: Buffalo State is recognized with the Washington Center's Higher Education Civic Engagement Award.
  • 2016: Dr. and Mrs. Frederick and Marilyn Howe create the Howe Community Service Scholarship. Donors have provided more than $60,000 in funds for this scholarship. 
  • 2017: The Civic and Community Engagement Office is established following recommendations from a Civic Action Planning process. 
  • 2018: Buffalo State is awarded its first Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow.  
  • 2019: West Side Promise Neighborhood and the national Anchor Institution initiative become initiatives of the CCE. 
  • 2020: The Community Academic Center joins the CCE and Buffalo State partners with the NYS Dept of Finance to offer a free Tax Preparation program. 
  • 2021: Buffalo State is awarded a Voter Friendly Campus designation and is recognized as a Washington Monthly 2022 Best Colleges for Student Voting campus.  
  • 2023: The CCE is renamed the Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner Office of Civic and Community Engagement and celebrates its 20-year anniversary.   
  • 2024 and beyond: the CCE continues to advance Buffalo State’s community-engaged anchor mission through partnerships and innovative programs!

Fast Facts 

Since 2003... 

  • 28,504 students have participated in service-learning courses. 
  • 1,886 courses have engaged students in community-based learning opportunities. 
  • 793,916 hours of service have been completed by volunteers and service-learning students through the CCE. 
  • 195 faculty have been trained in service-learning pedagogy. 
  • 199 volunteer events have engaged students directly with community organizations. 
  • Over 705 community organizations have partnered to meet community need while enhancing student learning. 
  • 3,595 Buffalo State students, together with 28 faculty and staff, engaged in reciprocal learning opportunities with 12,980 local youth and families through the Community Academic Center.