USD President's Report and Honor Roll of Donors 1993

NAOMI MCAULIFFE AND HER LEARNING PARTNER, RITA

b asliny 9 rfls: G nhanciny /he Communil_y

r-, h roughout its 44-year history, the University of San Diego has been J renowned fo r its emphas is on academic exce llence and its commit- ment to Catho lic values, as well as its phys ical beauty. But what of its relevance to the world at large? Does this educational c itadel care about the people in the valley below? Does the quality of USD's scho lar- ship contribu te to the quality of life beyond the campus gates? These questions are very much on the minds of the university's constituents, especially now, at what is a critical juncture in USD's history. Three factors have motivated USD to reflect anew on its relationships with the outside community: + An imminent transition of leadership at USO, with the pending retirements of Pre idcnt Author E. Hugh.cs and Academic Vice Prc ·idcnt and Provost S ister Sally Furay, RSC], has provided an occasion for U D to re-examine it · mission and its purpose. + The continuing stasis of the globa l economy ha · compelled the best and brightest in every soc iety to strive harder fo r the common good. + Dwindling resources fo r education have meant that all institutions of high.er lea rning - and particularly private co lleges and universities - may be called upon to demonstrate the tangible resulr- of their endeavors. "Educating young people is the bas ic miss ion of this institution, and we carry out that miss ion in two very different ways, " Hughes says. "Through the fo r- mal structure of faculty-student curricular interaction, we communicate fun- damental knowledge . And, equally important, through the structure of experiential learning, we communicate va lues." "It is not enough to send fo rth young people who will succeed in the ir fields because they have mastered their studies. We also must send forth young peo- ple who will improve the world around them because they have embraced altruism and honor," he adds. Preparing students to become complete citizens is the most apparent way that USD contributes to the community at large. But the citadel on the hill also works in less obvious ways to enhance the lives of others. Some examples: + Vo luntcerism and community support are a \\'ay of life at Alcal,1 Park. "There's a ·trong sense of service that pcn ·ade this institution," S ister Furay says. + Faculty and students routinely share their re ·ea rch findings and their exper- tise with practitioners of law, nursing, business, engineering and other profes ·ions. tudent-athlctes and o ther undergraduates se rve as mentor to area youngsters who arc looking fo r guidance. + By providing stable employment and attracting out-of-town visitors, USO helps bolster the loca l economy.

recognized the students' con- tribution with a Shelter Award in the Huusing Innovation category. This year, the U.S. Department of Education invited USD's Student Literacy Corps - which includes the Family Learning Center tutors - to partici- pate in a study concerning the effect of literacy tutoring on learners. The study will examine changes in literacy skills, attitudes and behav- iors, and will identify what is helpful fur learners in the tutoring process. To measure the changes, tutors are giv- ing participating learners a series of written surveys as well as conducting inter- views with them throughout the fall semester. USD is one of only nine uni- versities in the country selected to participate in this study. The Department of Education will compile the results from the nine univer- sities and produce a final report, which will he avail- ·ahlc to literacy programs nationwide. Studies and procedures aside, to Naomi McAuliffe, effec- tive tutoring means giving people the tools to better themselves or their lot in life. "At the housing com- plex, it's a chain they have to break, this chain of pover- ty," she says. "Education is their only chance to move up in the system, to make a good life for themselves. We're trying to help them achieve that goal."

aloha,ier, 1/ar/e/ //,a/ ,a/

lur;/J ,,,, a lull am/ ,par/.·ler/ "' //,,, wnf,r;/,1. II> ,/,,me,

tl,e, ,J//e'I he/,,,, r,/l

111, al 1/,e, 1/arl, / and ",,1J,/

/ (/ l 11 1

1/ / /1 ('

for hctter learning, Naomi says. "It's a lot more comfort- ahle atmosphere for the kids. They arc with people who really care ahout them, so they are more open to learn- ing. A lot of kids at school tease. If you arc home with a tutor, that tutor is not going to make fun of you if you mess up a word or a sentence structure." Naomi considers the time commitment meager. "It's only four hours out of our entire week, hut it can make the difference in a student getting good grades at school, which will cnahle him or her to get some type of scholarship." As the students quietly go ahout their business, others are taking notice of their work. In 1991, the San Diego Housing Commission

Naomi and her roommate, sophomore Carol Dieringer, are the project coordinators of the Family Learning Center, one of 15 communi- ty service projects sponsored by USD's Associated Stu- dents. For this project, USD students spend 30 hours each semester tutoring at a San Diego puhlic housing com- plex and an additional 12 hours in a literacy seminar on campus. Though their focus is on tutoring the chil- dren in the program, the stu- dents can help the parents at times also. This year's wait- ing list proves that demand exceeds supply once again. The USD students work one-on-one with their learn- ing partners in a community center at the complex or in the child's home. Tutoring in or near the home makes

Twice a week, USD sopho- more Naomi McAuliffe puts down her college texthooks and picks up elementary school reading hooks with Rita, her JO-year-old learn- ing partner. It is reward enough to know that Rita's reading and writing arc improving and that she is now in an accelerated pro- gram at her school. But when Rita's mom gave Naomi a warm hug and a sincere "thank you," she knew that the four hours she spends tutoring Rita each week arc hours well spent.