Pennsylvania Campus Compact (PACC) is an organization which offers statewide support for member institutions who sustain an environment, culture, and infrastructure for student civic and community engagement and campus/community partnerships. As one of the three oldest state Campus Compacts which were established in 1988, PACC has grown to 64 institutional members representing community college, private/liberal art colleges, PASSHE schools, and the Penn State System. 

How we add value to your institution's civic mission

1.Grants: Currently in 2011-12, 40 PACC institutions receive AmeriCorps education-only awards totaling $281,868 for students’ service in their community. Additionally, 15 PACC member institutions host a PACC*VISTA with a value of $300,000. Previously, 34 PACC institutions participated in a Learn and Serve grant in 2006-2009 for a value of $500,000.

2. Customized consultations: We coach PACC members based upon specific issues and concerns such as strategic planning and institutional alignment, faculty development for service-learning or engaged scholarship, strengthening community partnerships, and exploration of inter-disciplinary collaboration on crafting research agendas.  PACC staff visited over 65% of member campuses in 2010-11 providing training and technical assistance.

3. Advocacy:   We organize efforts affecting public policy such as national service funding (AmeriCorps, VISTA, Teach for America, etc.). Of note, National Campus Compact was the only higher education association included in the drafting and negotiations process, providing substantial input to key legislators and mobilizing state-level support for the Serve America Act. 

What do PACC member campuses look like?

• PA colleges ranked highest nationally in the number of President Honor Roll for Community Service institutions in each year since 2006
• 98% of PACC institutions have a mission/purpose statement that drives policies supporting service or civic engagement and have it explicitly stated in their strategic plan
• 22 PACC institutions have attained the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement (2006, 2008, 2010)
• 63% of PACC institutions assess student civic engagement outcomes
• 88% PACC institutions offer alternative school break trips

Partners together,  

Char Gray, PhD

Executive Director, PA Campus Compact