College-age students have a reputation for being less than desirable neighbors. It's not uncommon for homeowners to worry about late-night parties and rude tenants when they imagine living next door to a college student.
Kutztown University's Off Campus Advisory Council (OCAC) is working hard to alter this perception. The OCAC works closely with its students and area residents to ensure that Kutztown students living off campus have the tools necessary to be good neighbors—and the ability to leave the borough of Kutztown better for their four years in the community. This role as liaison between students and the borough is critical in Kutztown, where students outnumber permanent residents two-to-one when classes are in session.
Founded in 1991, the Off Campus Advisory Council has been helping Kutztown students understand the importance of maintaining a positive presence in the community for more than 20 years.
“Students are a big part of this town, and also a big part of the community,” says Thomas Schu, a member of the OCAC. The council's goal is to help students break through the isolation that can sometimes impact students renting in town, and encourage these students to become a contributing member of their town and college community.
Community blitz
What's the first step toward being a good neighbor? To be a good neighbor while renting a home, it's important to understand what it takes to be a responsible tenant and member of the community—sometimes a tough task for young adults living on their own for the first time.
During Kutztown's Welcome Back Community Blitz, volunteers distribute welcome bags to current students living off campus. These bags include information about utilities, paying bills, working with a landlord and what to expect while living in off-campus housing. Volunteers from the campus and community take part in this event by helping to distribute bags throughout the town. Friends and family of Kutztown students are also encouraged to get involved and welcome students back each semester.
“The reaction to this community effort has been overwhelmingly positive . . .”
Like many OCAC events, the Welcome Back Community Blitz serves two purposes: it familiarizes students with the etiquette required to be a good tenant and neighbor. The Blitz also introduces Kutztown students to local residents and the OCAC, keeping students connected to the university and surrounding community.
“We try to be a source of information for students living off campus. If students have questions about their lease or living in the community, they can come to us,” says Christian Geirsson, graduate assistant and advisor for the OCAC. “We want to help those students feel like part of the community, but also part of campus.”
Many students feel disconnected from college life when they live off campus, he adds. Kutztown's OCAC helps these students to stay connected to the university while still maintaining a positive presence in the greater Kutztown community. Helping students create ties both where they live and study benefits the entire community, creating a positive environment for students and permanent residents.
“Both students and residents want to continue that image of Kutztown being a great place to live,” Geirsson says.
Kutztown by numbers
The population of Kutztown nearly triples at the start of each semester. For this small town's students and permanent residents, understanding how to be a good neighbor is critical, because the university's inhabitants and local tenants make up two-thirds of the population. The Off Campus Advisory Council plays a vital role in improving the relationship between students and borough residents.
Permanent residents: 5,012
University students: 10,700
Students living in campus housing: 4,500
Students renting local homes and apartments: 2,500
Heavy lifting: Operation Snowflake
Perhaps the OCAC's best chance to shine in the community is after each snowstorm. While most college students celebrate snow days by sleeping in and staying indoors, the OCAC uses snowstorms as another chance to improve their community.
Operation Snowflake is a campus-wide effort to assist local residents who are disabled or unable to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks. Students living both on and off campus contribute to this effort, volunteering to clear snow and ice from residents' sidewalks after each storm. Local residents and scouting groups also get involved, working alongside students to keep Kutztown's sidewalks safe and snow-free.
“Through Operation Snowflake, we try to give back to the disabled and elderly in the community,” says Thomas Schu, coordinator of Operation Snowflake and OCAC member. “This year, we're working with groups from outside of Kutztown University to make this more of a community event. These programs are growing, and we invite everybody to get involved. You get a lot more done when everyone is working together.”
The reaction to this community effort has been overwhelmingly positive, he adds. The simple act of clearing snow or ice from a neighbor's sidewalks can brighten an elderly neighbor's day—and also make volunteers feel great about helping out.
“People try to give us cookies. We also get thank-you cards from residents after they've been helped through Operation Snowflake. It's a very heartfelt interaction between students and the community,” Schu says.
In warmer weather, student groups can Adopt-A-Block through the OCAC, pledging to clean litter and trash from their designated area in Downtown Kutztown. University clubs and organizations can also celebrate Arbor Day by adopting a tree or donating their time to help plant trees at the Kutztown Community Park, located a few blocks from campus.
Taking action
The OCAC staff consists of just six students, but relies on volunteers from campus and the community to make their events possible. For events such as Operation Snowflake or the Welcome Back Community Blitz, more volunteers means more sidewalks cleared—and a chance to connect with as many Downtown Kutztown residents and off-campus students as possible.
The OCAC also coordinates its efforts with Kutztown University's Student Government Board, the borough of Kutztown and Kutztown Community Partnership (KCP), attending the meetings of each organization to explore the concerns facing students and the greater community. These meetings help to spotlight problems and create solutions that meet the needs of students and residents. Just this year, the OCAC staff took action when local residents and students realized that litter was becoming a problem in their picturesque town.
“We noticed that there was a lot of litter in Kutztown and wanted to address the issue,” says Megan Cheng, president of OCAC and public relations coordinator. Cheng immediately launched an anti-litter campaign and poster contest to raise awareness of the town's litter problem. OCAC is also working with local businesses and Kutztown Community Partnership to educate businesses about the importance of providing accessible trashcans and about accepting personal responsibility for how they eliminate litter.
The OCAC staff and volunteers work with local groups and businesses to host community events throughout the year. Members help to organize monthly bingo programs and dinners at Saucony Cross, a local senior living community, and coordinate student volunteers for Saucony Cross' annual senior prom. They also work alongside the Kutztown Community Partnership to organize a block party each spring and downtown trick-or-treat events during Halloween. These trick-or-treat events attract more than 250 student volunteers each year to distribute candy and organize activities for local children.
This spring, the OCAC will host their first meet-and-greet events to bring together student tenants, landlords and neighbors for an evening at a host student's home.
“It's a chance for students and neighbors to build relationships in a positive way,” Geirsson says. “It's hard to put yourself out there and introduce yourself, but communicating with your neighbors is so important. Connecting names with faces and knowing who your neighbors are is a way to break down barriers in the community.”
Staff members also host an annual housing fair on campus for students considering off-campus life. These housing fairs are a chance for prospective tenants to speak with local landlords and representatives from local housing units. During housing fairs, community representatives from local banks, utility companies and vendors are also available to answer student questions.
The annual housing fair is also a chance for the OCAC to connect with next year's students living off campus and begin creating ties that will help these students be positive members of the community. In the fall semester, they'll reinforce this relationship by welcoming the students to their life as a Kutztown borough resident and begin educating these students on the values of being a good neighbor—just as they have been welcoming students to off campus life for the past 20 years.
Learn more about Kutztown University's Off Campus Advisory Council
As Kutztown University's Off Campus Advisory Council activities continue to grow, they are seeking individuals and groups willing to help with programs such as Operation Snowflake. To learn more about volunteer opportunities through the OCAC, contact 610.683.1524 or ocac@kutztown.edu.
