MUNCIE, Ind. - A nonprofit state organization celebrating its 10th anniversary has played a significant role in assisting Ball State University support service learning and civic engagement opportunities for faculty, staff and students.

Daniel Stallings, director of Ball State's Leadership and Service Learning program, said Indiana Campus Compact has done this by contributing nearly $227,000 in grants to the university since 1995.

The funding has allowed Ball State to play a stronger role in addressing the needs of the local community, he said.

"One part of Ball State's mission always has been to use our programs to enrich the community," Stallings said. "Indiana Campus Compact has been one of the resources that has assisted the university to focus on civic engagement and campus-community partnerships.

"It has been a terrific partnership," he said. "The relationship also has significantly helped Ball State's students develop a sense of civic responsibility and leadership."

Stallings said the partnership with the Indiana Campus Compact has allowed Ball State to:

• Support the Indiana Reading Corps program with grants totaling $125,000. Ball State's program is the largest after-school literacy program in the state.
• Provide $65,000 in grant funding for faculty-supported endeavors, including fellowships, curriculum development, scholarships, teacher education and community engagement.
• Support student-directed service projects and funding to allow students to attend state, regional and national gatherings to discuss and shape student engagement experiences and Indiana Campus Compact programs.
• Recognize outstanding work in areas related to service learning by honoring faculty and students.

Indiana Campus Compact, an Indianapolis-based consortium of private and public colleges, seeks to cultivate in students a lifelong commitment to community service and strengthen the positive role universities play in their local communities.

The organization was originally formed as a loose coalition named the Indiana Consortium for Voluntary Service. In March 1993, the Indiana Campus Compact was formed with six charter members: Butler University, DePauw University, Earlham College, Indiana University, the University of Notre Dame and Valparaiso University.

Since then the Indiana Campus Compact has expanded membership to a total of 31 college campuses across the state.