Recently, Mercyhurst College President Tom Gamble, Ph.D., was nominated to and accepted the position on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Campus Compact (PACC).

The PACC began in 1985 and is a part of the greater Campus Compact. The mission of the organization is to improve community life for colleges and universities and to inform students about civic and social responsibility.

About 1,100 college and university presidents are included in the PACC that represent their campus across the country. Among these, 70 are from Pennsylvania. Some of these include schools such as Duquesne University, Lock Haven University and Bucknell University.

Other board members take a community role or volunteer for Philabunance, a food bank of Delaware Valley, or as executive directors for Communities in Schools.

Director of Service Learning Colin Hurley was invited to serve on the PACC strategic advisory board along with 15 others across Pennsylvania.

“This board truly steers the direction of the organization and how it can leverage resources across the state,” Hurley said.

The strategic board is in its second year of operation; however, it is the first year for Hurley on the board. Roughly 12 other directors of a service learning position or one similar to that are on the board.

They provide feedback on statewide grants, conferences or round table discussions surrounding civic engagement for college students. These are developed from experiences learned in the department.

“My roles on the board have been diverse. I’ve provided qualitative data to several college presidents regarding an undergraduate service program known as Community Fellows,” Hurely said.

At the conference in Harrisburg, Hurley acted as a facilitator for a social change model of leadership curriculum. The members worked together and listened to each other’s feedback.

“I hope to see the feedback used to improve student life as much as possible,” junior Max Susko said.

Hurley’s main role is to be an observer and advocate for the congruence and consistency for the PACC’s mission and to converse with other colleagues around the state.

As far as board proposals, they are in discussion of the power of regional networks of colleges and universities unitizing resources and offering students more opportunities of civic potential during their time of learning in school.

The board also makes suggestions to PACC staff about grants, conferences, partnerships and other items along these lines.

“It’s good to know Dr. Gamble was added to the Board list and that they care about the students obtaining opportunities,” sophomore Angela Staszak said.

The board affects students by allowing the members’ knowledge to make the best decisions for them and leverage the resources of other members across the country.

“The influence on faculty teaching and administrative practice is ultimately looking at the goal of better educational opportunities for students, as change is inevitable,” Hurley said.