Service and Community Engagement
Mission and Purpose
The University of Findlay’s Office of Service and Community Engagement mission is to integrate service within the University to strengthen the larger community. The office serves as the link between the campus and the community, and as such coordinates volunteer and academic service-learning opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members. We believe that learning through service will benefit individuals as well as the community in lasting ways. The office facilitates service locally, nationally, and internationally.
Learning through service benefits the individual and the community in lasting ways. Knowledge and skills learned in coursework are applied to positively impact the community through academic service-learning. Students are encouraged to identify community needs, volunteer, and reflect on their service experiences.
Since 1998, The University of Findlay has been a member of the national Campus Compact, an organization of nearly 1,200 colleges and universities, representing some six million students, dedicated to promoting community service, civic engagement, and service-learning in higher education.
Volunteer Opportunities for Students
The Office of Service and Community Engagement can help students, faculty, and staff members who wish to volunteer in the Hancock County community. A weekly newsletter of current one-time and ongoing local volunteer opportunities, along with virtual volunteer opportunities, is available . The following are examples of volunteer projects:
- Orientation Service Project
In August during Orientation weekend, new students, along with faculty and staff of The University of Findlay, volunteer at many local non-profit agencies, churches, and schools. The Orientation Service Project introduces all first-year students to the community while meeting the local community’s needs at the same time.
- Volunteer Opportunities
The Office of Service and Community Engagement leads service days that are open to all members of the campus community. These volunteer opportunities are convenient for UF students and give students the opportunity to give back to their campus community. The UF community can contribute to the local community through a variety of one-time events (such as non-profits’ special events) and ongoing opportunities (such as tutoring and mentoring programs).
- Student Group Volunteer Projects
Many student groups participate in one-time and ongoing volunteer projects. The Office of Service and Community Engagement helps student organizations, athletic teams, and residence life groups make connections with the Hancock County community. The office also helps to coordinate week-long national and international service projects.
- Alternative Spring Break Program
Each year during the designated spring break session, UF students, accompanied by faculty and staff, participate in an “alternative spring break” program designed to provide them with the opportunity to meet local, state, national, and international community needs through service. Past experiences have provided students the opportunity to work with youth and elders in community centers in major cities, to explore social justice through learning about immigration and refugees, and to participate in Habitat for Humanity building projects across the country. Students participate in these service experiences by investigating the social issues they address and the communities they serve as well as by reflecting on their service experiences through written reflection, group dialogues, and group activities.
Contact Information
Please contact the Office of Service and Community Engagement at volunteer@findlay.edu or 419-434-6671 for more information about these programs.