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Kentucky State University's Regional Stewardship Program is an academic initiative established at each regional university that applied and was approved, by the Council for Postsecondary Education. The Stewardship initiative was designed by CPE to re-engage regional institutions with the communities they were created to serve. Stewardship activities focus on developing partnerships and matching the University's social and intellectual capital, with those of the community, to address problems communities seek help resolving. A framework guiding the program clusters around the following 5 general themes: innovative strategies for economic development and to help maintain livable communities; increase social inclusion and develop creative governance; increase civic and public engagement and support PK-12 initiatives.

This report focuses primarily on a sampling of KSU's civic engagement activities. Civic engagement includes volunteerism and service activities. Such activities may also be coupled with academic coursework. One example of a new service-learning course is the result of collaboration between Dr. Amanda Sokan, professor of Gerontology and Mary Elaine West, Coordinator of the Frankfort Senior Activity Center. Dr. Sokan adapted one of her classes to a service learning model. Presenting a series of workshops at the Center allowed for a one-on-one interaction between Gerontology students and senior participants. Interviews enabled a fact-gathering process that developed individual profiles, their specific needs or problems, and devised life-changing goals with participants, or methods for dealing with problem areas.

As the Commonwealth's Chief Advocate for civic engagement, Kentucky's Secretary of State, Alison Lundergan Grimes, was hosted by Regional Stewardship at KSU on November 30, 2012, to lead a Roundtable Discussion on the state of Civic Engagement in Kentucky. The Roundtable participants included KSU Administrators, Faculty and Students, in addition to local K-12 and government officials, as well as general citizens.

While the 2011 Kentucky Civic Health Index was low on most factors surveyed, Kentucky State University students and faculty continue to increase their involvement in both service learning and community volunteerism. Service hours contributed by students, during this quarter, amounts to 1800 and include participation by students enrolled in 7 sections of UNV 101 students, a range of student organizations and individual students. This level of engagement has resulted in the University being named to the National President's Honor Roll for three years in a row. This award is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service and provides national recognition for the University's service achievements.