Hofstra Magazine

Hofstra in the Community

Community outreach has become an integral part of the Hofstra experience

By Ginny Ehrlich-Greenberg

At a January 2007 meeting of the Long Island Women's Agenda (LIWA), Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz addressed a large group of local elected officials and business leaders, and said that as we continue to move into the 21st century, it is vital for Hofstra to further extend the use of its resources and facilities to the community and eliminate the delineation between what he called “town and gown.”

Hofstra has many facilities and programs that are focused on community outreach. Some have an institutional and academic impetus while others are student-motivated.

Among those are Hofstra's Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center, the Scott Skodnek Business Development Center and the Center for Suburban Studies. The first offers a wide variety of clinical services and early childhood education.

The second is focused on enhancing the skills of local business leaders and assisting small business owners. The last is a think tank that addresses the concerns of a suburban population.

“It is important that Hofstra be a vital part of the community at large and teach its students how to become good citizens,” says Richard V. Guardino, Hofstra vice president for business development and executive dean of the Center for Suburban Studies.

Hofstra students have their own ambitious philanthropic initiatives, which are completely in line with a nationwide focus on volunteerism among college students. These efforts, while helpful to the public, have also allowed students and faculty members to explore their educational, professional and civic interests in ways they probably never imagined.

Hofstra Students and the Office of Student Affairs

The emphasis on community service among students and student organizations is growing, not only at Hofstra but on college campuses nationwide. These efforts, which have received a lot of public and media attention, can be helpful to students who are building their resumes. It would seem, however, that the transformative experience of helping others has been reward enough for Hofstra students.

The satisfaction students felt for their fund-raising and relief efforts in the aftermath of 9/11, the tsunamis that hit South Asia in 2004, and Hurricane Katrina is fueling ideas and record participation for future programs.

The consensus among the offices that work closely with students on community projects is that young people are exhibiting philanthropic interests before they even start as freshmen here, and it doesn't take a lot of handholding to help them plan worthwhile events with impressive results.

Incoming Students Ready to Pitch In Hofstra students are committed to making a difference — not for a club or organization or to fluff a resume, but really for the greater good. Anita Ellis '88, '90, assistant dean of students and director of student activities, says, “Students are more apt to serve today. Where campus offices become involved is channeling that energy into different service projects and helping students find their niche.”

continued...