Community Liasion Programs
Community Service Programs
CSUnity
April, (Annually)
This is a one-day event involving hundreds of CSU students doing volunteer projects in the Fort Collins community. Projects include work at local non-profit agencies and for-profit service agencies, park and trail clean-ups, and yardwork for neighbors in need. The Neighborhood Services Office works with neighbors to line up projects within the neighborhoods. CSUnity is a mutually beneficial, feel-good event at which students can experience personal fulfillment while assisting neighborhoods and agencies in need.
Fall Cleanup (October/November)
This is a one-day service project to assist neighbors who need help raking leaves, cleaning gutters, trimming bushes, etc. This project is geared towards helping many of the neighbors who are involved in the Adopt A Neighbor program. By providing community service to elderly and disabled neighbors in need, student volunteers feel a sense of connectedness to their neighbors and community. Furthermore, this program helps recruit volunteers who will go on to provide snow removal assistance to neighbors throughout the winter months.
Educational Programs
Residence Hall Presentations
February, (Annually)
Residence Hall Presentations offer students who are planning to move off-campus for the first time an opportunity to get the information that they need with regard to their housing options, rights and responsibilities off-campus, and resources available to them as off-campus residents. Residence Hall Presentations happen on an annual basis and free pizza is provided to those who attend.
Safety/Health & Wellness Fair
September, (Annually)
The Safety Fair features CSU and City resources that can assist CSU students protect their health and safety as Fort Collins residents. Fair participants include Fort Collins Heath and Safety, Fort Collins Police Services, CSU Police Department, Poudre Fire Authority, CSU Women's Programs and Studies, and the Center for Alcohol and Drug Education. This is an annual event which occurs on the plaza at Colorado State University.
Community Welcome
August, (Annually)
On this one evening of the year police, students, neighbors, and CSU and City staff team together to go door to door in the neighborhoods educating tenants and residents on City ordinances, good neighboring, and nuisance behaviors. Last year over 2000 contacts were made. This is a tremendously positive and collaborative event.
Party Partners
Ongoing
Party Partners is a workshop that serves as an educational referral for students that have received noise violations in Fort Collins. Party partners is geared at educating students on their civic responsibilities, helping prevent problem behavior off-campus, and helping students become true residents, instead of temporary visitors in the community. Party partners is a collaborative effort between the City of Fort Collins Police Department, City of Fort Collins Neighborhood Resources Office, CSU Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct Services, and CSU Off-Campus Student Services.
Housing Fair
March, (Annually)
The housing fair is a wonderful opportunity for CSU students to explore their housing options both on and off-campus. Approximately 90 vendors including property management companies, realtors, and CSU offices that are resources to students in their housing search attend the housing fair each year. Be sure to check out the Neighborhood Resources, Off-Campus Student Services, and Student Legal Services booths for critical information on city codes and ordinances, landlord/tenant issues, lease information, and roommating strategies.
Duh Campaign (on-going)
This is an advertising campaign geared at creating awareness around neighborly behavior. The Duh Campaign was developed in 2000 out of the neighborhood taskforce that was charged with offering strategies that addressed the increasing problems in neighborhoods near campus that were heavily rentals. In the year 2005, the ads were revisited and modified to fit today's pop culture. The campaign contains seven (7) separate ads, each addressing a different neighborhood issue: noise/music, trash, couches on porches, parties, public urination, parking and pets. Posters were created out of ads and are posted around the CSU campus and within the Fort Collins community.
The Rental World Video (on-going)
The Rental World is a 23-minute video that addresses issues that are commonly faced by students who move off campus for the first time. Filmed as a parody of MTV's "Real World," it traces the lives of Donnie, Elainea, Tom, Matt, and Missi as they encounter landlords, leases, police, and neighbors. The goal of the Rental World is to provide students with the information that they need to make a successful transition from on-campus housing into the community. The Rental World was produced by City of Fort Collins Cable Channel 27. Content areas to be covered in the video were determined by focus groups comprised of students, student leaders, Housing and Dining Services representatives, Rolland Moore West Neighborhood Network, Off-Campus Student Services, and the Neighborhood Services Office.
Community Building Programs
Community Civility Awards
April, (Annually)
This annual event features awards for CSU students, community members, business leaders, and groups who have shown a commitment to neighborliness, civility, and community service. Nominations are taken throughout February and March with winners chosen by a committee. The ceremony occurs in the City Council Chambers and the awards are presented by the City Manager, Mayor, and President of CSU.
Great Sofa Round-Up
July/August, (Annually)
The Great Sofa Round-Up is a great chance for Fort Collins community members to unload unwanted couches and pick up needed couches, all for free! The Neighborhood Services Office will schedule pick-ups prior to July 30 for those people who would like to donate couches. Although this event is geared toward Colorado State University students and the 12-month lease cycle, the event is open to anyone. The Great Sofa Round-Up is held in the Moby Parking Lot at Colorado State University. This is a fun event! Come and take a look!
Party Packs
Ongoing
Party packs are designed to help students have fun and entertain friends without disturbing neighbors, violating the law, or getting the police involved. One party pack contains: 2 bottles of water, a party smart t-shirt, a late night programming schedule, 1 trash bag, 1 recycling bag, 25 "over 21" wristbands, 16 handouts that can be distributed to neighbors announcing the party, 1 roll of tape for posting the fliers, a party checklist, a handout outlining common code and ordinance violations, duh posters, name tags for car keys and an evaluation card. Party packs are free! The party pack program is a collaborative effort sponsored by: Off-Campus Student Services, City of Fort Collins Neighborhood Services Office, Vice President for Student Affairs Parents Fund, Live Life Late, Gallegos Sanitation Incorporated, City of Fort Collins-Operation Services, CSU Hartshorn Health Service, City of Fort Collins-Natural Resources.
Community Civility Awards (Spring)
This annual event features awards for CSU students, community members, business leaders, and groups who have shown a commitment to neighborliness, civility, and community service. Nominations are taken throughout February and March with winners chosen by a committee. The ceremony occurs in the City Council Chambers and the awards are presented by the City Manager, Mayor, and President of CSU.
Neighborhood Dialogues (Fall & Spring Semesters)
The Community Liaison will organize neighborhood dialogues between student and non-student residents throughout the Fort Collins community. The dialogues will take place in both the fall and spring semesters. In addition to exploring stereotypes and common misperceptions, these dialogues will encourage participants to search for common ground and work towards increasing tolerance and acceptance. The dialogue series will provide the opportunity for students and non-student residents to open the doors to positive communication and possible brainstorming solutions.
Neighborhood Partnership Program
The Neighborhood Partnership Program is an innovative program designed to foster and build cooperation between students and non-student residents in Fort Collins neighborhoods. The Student Coordinator (SC) is a CSU student(s) assigned to be a resource person in a designated neighborhood and will assist residents with resources, referrals, basic conflict resolution, and event planning. The SC will live and work in the neighborhoods and will be responsible for creating monthly neighborhood programs, distributing a monthly newsletter promoting positive relationships, and providing resources or referrals to neighbors in need. The SC will work closely with their Neighborhood Partner (NP) whose role is to assist the SC in fostering a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation between students and permanent residents in Fort Collins neighborhoods.