New York Campus Compact

Mission Statement

The New York Campus Compact is dedicated to revitalizing the civic role of higher education institutions across New York State. A key component of this mission is to address social problems in the low-income communities in which NYCC members are located. Many low-income residents face under-resourced schools, overburdened community-based organizations and an increasing number of service needs that are unmet by the current social welfare system. Colleges and universities have resources that can be deployed in these communities to help individuals obtain the support and skills that will improve their financial, educational and employment outcomes. A main barrier to colleges and universities performing productive work in their communities is the decentralized nature of the human service sector. Acting as a centralizing agent, the NYCC AC*VISTA project has made a lasting mark on communities in New York. In 2007, the NYCC hopes to expand its capacity as a sponsoring organization to include thirty college and university VISTA sites across the state.