Owing to the scope and pace of change, society has become increasingly knowledge-based so that higher learning and research now act as essential components of cultural, socio-economic and environmentally sustainable development of individuals, communities and nations. In this environment, it is essential that higher learning and knowledge creation involve effective partnerships among academic and non-academic learning institutions and communities to create and apply learning and knowledge with stakeholders that are managing and creating sustainable development initiatives. Growing concern regarding the importance of the contribution that higher education institutions make to society has aroused increasing debate about their relevance and credibility amid escalating social problems. An underlying premise of community engagement is the understanding that not all knowledge and expertise resides in the academy, and that both expertise and great learning opportunities in teaching and scholarship also reside in non-academic settings.
This conference will explore how LIS educators and researchers can develop curricula, programs, and research activities that enable active partnerships with communities and civil society to manage and create change. How can LIS programs increase opportunities for experiential, service oriented, and community engaged student learning? How can we develop further collaboration between LIS programs and their larger communities (local, regional/ state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity?
The goal of childhood immunization, as stated in Healthy People 2020, aims to improve vaccine coverage to 80 percent among children ages 19-35 months nationwide (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2016). Over the past decades, collaborative efforts have been made to advance children vaccination compliance including government recommendations and policies, national public health campaigns, and electronic tracking systems notification implemented to maintain electronic personal health record or patient portals. However, the 2014 measles outbreak of 667 cases from 27 states (CDC, 2016, para. 2) rekindled debates over the long-lasting social phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy or refusal, the so-called anti-vaccination movements. Those skeptics or vocal opponents of compulsory childhood vaccinations either question or believe that vaccines are dangerous to children. The anti-vaccine activists might act not only on the pure parental impulse to protect their children’s health, but also on different deep-rooted political, religious, or personal beliefs. A high rate of children’s vaccine exemption in the U.S. increases the likelihood of outbreaks of once eradicated diseases, amongst the most vulnerable public locations are across K-12 and college campuses.
