Castleton Downtown Expands Community Partners
As Castleton continues to expand far beyond the campus borders, so does its growing list of community partners.
Since the opening of Castleton Downtown in January, located on Merchants Row in downtown Rutland, the University’s list of community partners has come to incorporate more than 400 campus-wide affiliates and various strategic partnerships with area organizations, including the Rutland Young Professionals, NeighborWorks and Evolve Rutland, that will help further enhance the quality of a Castleton education.
“The goal of Castleton, and the Castleton Downtown office, is to connect students with meaningful learning experiences with local businesses, nonprofits, schools and local and regional municipalities and community organizations,” said Director of Community Engagement Chrispin White, who is spearheading internship efforts from the new office. “Our partnerships also provide our students with networking and mentorship opportunities, while providing our community partners with a fresh and insightful talent base from which to draw.”
The building of this infrastructure plays a prominent role in helping Castleton achieve the forward-thinking goals of “Castleton on the Move,” a strategic plan that maps out the next decade of the university’s growth.
The center has worked to match and connect college programs and students with the specific needs of local business and community partners through internships and community engagement opportunities, benefitting both Castleton students and local community organizations.
Students receive mentorship, valuable experience related to their future career goals and opportunities to network with professionals in their chosen field of study, while businesses and community organizations benefit from work performed by enthusiastic and skilled students from a growing pool of applicants, who may be interested in future employment.
“These valuable partnerships provide a variety of opportunities for our students to explore their career choice, complement their educational experience, strengthen their understanding of diversity and social responsibility, and develop skills to become knowledgeable leaders who contribute to a global society,” said White.