In 1996, Dr. Dale Brougher, then Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Associate Professor of Religion, spearheaded a Community Service Committee within the structure of the College of Liberal Arts to explore the possibilities of service and engagement on The University of Findlay campus. Dr. Brougher invited Maile Doyle, then director of the United Way of Findlay/Hancock County’s Volunteer Cent
er, to help shape a vision of service for the campus community. The Community Service Committee then elected Ms. Doyle and Dr. Brougher as the first co-chairs of the newly formed Campus Compact Board which was charged with providing leadership, vision, support, advice, and a strategic plan to the service program in order to integrate a philosophy of service into the life of the campus community. In 1998, UF joined the Ohio Campus Compact and National Campus Compact and subsequently The University of Findlay Campus Compact Center was created. In the spring of 2000, Dr. Jeanette Drake’s Public Relations Practices and Writing courses worked to develop an identity for the Campus Compact Center. Through these service learning courses, Campus Compact created its familiar logo incorporating the Griffith Memorial Arch as a gateway to the community and the slogan “Strengthening Ourselves Through Service” which continues to describe the program’s mission. In 2001, Dr. Wayne Sneath changed the title of the office to the Campus Compact Center for Service and Learning to reflect the evolving structure of the service initiative. Crystal (Jones) Weitz was hired as the Campus Compact Coordinator in the Fall of 2006. The University of Findlay's Campus Compact Center has hosted several AmeriCorps*VISTAs who have worked tirelessly to advance the civic engagement initiatives (especially those related to poverty). These AmeriCorps*VISTAs were: Katherine Hart, Jennifer Taylor, Crystal Jones, Katie McGee, Heather Eichner, Rachel Powell, Gwen Stembridge and Bethany Mulhern. Some of the service initiatives that they helped to implement have included: Alternative Spring Break trips, UF Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter, Orientation Service Project, Raise Your Voice Campaign, MLK A Day On Service Project, Walking School Bus, Bring a Senior Friend to Thanksgiving Dinner (co-sponsored by Sodexo Dining Services), Valentine's Day Party and Food Drive (co-sponsored by the Student Activities/Commuter Student Services Office), Sweet Service Saturdays, the Relay for Life Inspiration Project, mobile food pantries, September 11th Day of Remembrance and Service, the re-activation of Circle K and 1Matters Project Connect. The Campus Compact Center and The University of Findlay thanks these AmeriCorps*VISTAs for their years of service! At the present time, the Director, Graduate Assistant, Work Study Student, and the Campus Compact Board work to support the objectives of the Campus Compact Center with the belief that learning through service will benefit the individual as well as the community in lasting ways.
