Corbin Connect (C2) is not only a place to collaborate and develop skills, it is also a philosophy.
As part of the College of Applied Studies, C2 works with its sponsors, such as Credit Union of America, to support innovative ideas and serves to engage stakeholders in a variety of impactful ways and transcend the traditional forms of activity within the university setting. Innovation is a means—not an end or product—and a way to respond to various community, organizational, individuals’ needs.
Educational Technology Outreach
Corbin Connect promotes collaboration, innovation, and education for both Wichita State University and the surrounding community.
C2 Details
C2’s purpose statement supports the university’s Mission and Vision statements. That is, the purpose of C2 is to connect individuals and organizations through developmental outreach in order to better educate and serve our communities. In order to better realize this purpose statement and to better serve our stakeholders, C2 will engage in a variety of initiatives guided by our four pillars: education, outreach, community-building, and service leadership.
The goal of C2 is to provide both formal and informal educational programs positively impacting key stakeholders. Educational programming, which will be made available to potential students, current students, and community members wanting to learn more about specific topics or skillsets, will involve a variety of topics.
Topics include, but are not limited to, creating educational materials using outcomes assessment expertise, further development of interpersonal skills (e.g., soft skills), upskilling technology-based skillsets, and technical problem-solving for organizations or communities (e.g., how to create online training programs).
C2 will also provide current students with a variety of applied learning opportunities engaging them in not only university-related work, but also providing them with direct access to faculty, staff, and off-campus organizations’ networks.
The goal of C2 is to provide support and guidance for those groups (e.g., donors, young people, current students, community or civic organizations) wanting to engage with higher education expertise for positive community or organizational impact.
Outreach can be internal or external, based upon the constituent’s needs, and involves tailored programming, problem-solving, and/or logistical support. C2 focuses on outreach by bringing together our Wichita State University community through not only educational activities, but also by engaging our K-20 educational partners, university partners, our local/regional community, and civic, public administration, or private business organizations.
While C2 works extensively with off-campus partners, building community also involves working with young people (e.g., potential students), current students, and former students.
Having an on-campus, physical presence provides students a social connection and (social) space to the College of Applied Studies and the famous Corbin Education Center, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. We build community through our work and through our space.
C2 is both a structure and an idea rooted in development, learning, and service. C2is built upon the tenets of Greenleaf’s servant leadership, which is “is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world” (Center for Servant Leadership, 2016).
Our version of this idea, known as service leadership, is influenced by the College of Applied Studies’ understanding of connecting with both individuals and communities through the transformative power of education, development, and engagement. Service leadership means C2 is a leader in bringing value to the communities we serve through our services, ideas, and various forms of support.