Brief History

Originally a service-learning department, the Community Programs Office (CPO) has undergone significant growth and transformation over the past 50 years. In the 1980s, it focused on student-initiated community service projects and expanded in the late 1980s and 1990s to include undergraduate support programs staffed by professional and student employees. By the end of the 1990s, the department added college preparation initiatives and established the CPO Student Association to advocate for community service programs.

In the 2000s, the CPO introduced commuter ride services, leadership externship opportunities, and the CPO Food Closet. In the following decade, the department expanded further by launching academic support services and contributing to the development of resource coordination across campus. In 2015, the CPO began leading the Basic and Essential Needs Committee. In the late 2010s, it also introduced seasonal food distribution programs to serve students, staff, faculty, and retirees.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the CPO led campus-wide efforts to coordinate basic needs services, including a grocery card initiative and expanded food distribution. These efforts were supported by successful grant proposals, culminating in the formal establishment of the Basic and Essential Needs Collective in 2022.

Today, the CPO is a comprehensive student support department focused on academic success, leadership development, and civic engagement. It provides services such as resource coordination, academic support programs like the Writing Success Program and Math Success Program, and opportunities for community involvement. Through its range of initiatives, the CPO works to foster student leadership, enhance engagement, and contribute to a strong university community.

CPO Leadership Staff Over the Years

30 years of CPO staff leadership can be found here