Office of Civic Engagement

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One role the Office of Civic Engagement plays is to assist community organizations to find partners within the University and to help faculty/staff find partners in the larger community. Partners can then collaborate on community-based learning projects, research, or other way of helping students connect what they learn in the classroom to what they experience at a community organization.

Specifically, we can assist community organizations by:

• suggesting faculty and making initial contacts
• suggesting projects or other CBL ideas
• assisting with logistics of incorporating students into projects
• helping to evaluate projects and modifying as needed

Opportunities for Collaboration

Some ways to collaborate with faculty are:

One-time service project

Semester-long partnerships (i.e. service-learning experiences)

Community Days

Benefits of Collaboration

"As students volunteer with us, they gain an in-depth understanding of what our organization is trying to do, and why. It is a tremendous benefit to know that when it comes to violence against women, we have a pool of young adults who are on the same page with us."

-Education Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator at Safe Haven Shelter for Battered Women

"UMD students provide our students the opportunity to work one-on-one with an adult on academics. All day our students are 1 of 28 or 1 of 24 but in the evenings with the help of volunteers they are able to get the one-on-one help they need."

-After-school Program site coordinator

"The biggest benefit of having student volunteers is the observable positive effect of human beings connecting - behaviors associated with dementia were actually reduced by student involvement. Human worth and dignity are the 'gifts' the students bring in exchange for first-hand knowledge with 'lessons of life' and actually experiencing textbook learning in action."

-Volunteer Coordinator at Christ Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center

"The biggest benefit to having students from UMD working with our staff and students is the introduction of new and innovative energy that college kids bring to our site. The interaction with our students and staff helps to widen the experience of all involved and gives greater chances to learn and grow in our school environment. I think the impact on our students is tremendous as they watch young adults giving their time, energy and talents to make things better for those around them. This sets a high standard model for our students to strive to live up to."

-Public school superintendent

The inclusion of any organization or person in the contact information we provide does not constitute a representation, warranty, or endorsement with respect to the competence, suitability, or reliability of such organization or person by University of Minnesota Duluth or the Office of Civic Engagement, nor does the Office of Civic Engagement sponsor or endorse any third-party web site.