What is volunteering?

Volunteering is the commitment of time and energy, for the benefit of society, local communities, and individuals outside the immediate family, the environment or other causes. Voluntary activities are undertaken of a person’s own free will, without being paid. The Volunteer Program regularly updates its website with information about new volunteer opportunities.

What is community service?

Community service involves more structure and commitment than volunteering. Community service differs from volunteering in that individuals are dedicated to helping solve community issues. Service can be either direct or indirect. If you are interested in serving with other like-minded individuals, contact The Volunteer Program to find out about our newly forming groups that serve Habitat for Humanity and mentor school children with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. You may also want to serve with CSU’s Lion’s Club.

What is service-learning?

Service-learning is a methodology that asks students to learn new information through participation in organized service activities followed by individual and group reflections. This pedagogy both deepens and advances students’ understanding of complex topics and the manner in which they manifest themselves within a local, regional, and/or global community. The Volunteer Program happily serves as a resource to faculty and instructors interested in developing a service-learning course. Please contact us by email, volunteer@csuohio.edu, or phone (216) 687-2048.

What is civic engagement?

Civic engagement includes the broad, inclusive, and direct participation in the search for the common good, enriching and enhancing students’ involvement in the democratic process. Components of civic engagement include dialogue, empowerment, education, and advocacy in order to create responsible citizens.

Why is it important to be involved in your community?

The Volunteer Program values the rich experiences, as well as the pervasive struggles, that the greater Cleveland community faces. We believe that there exists a deep interconnectedness between educating students to serve and lead their communities and the development of creative ways to address and respond to social issues. As such, the Volunteer Program wholeheartedly believes that CSU students—future leaders, educators, businessmen and women, scientists—must know firsthand about social issues in order to address them.

What if my schedule is busy and I don’t have time to get involved?

The Volunteer Program offers service projects that require a few hours, a day, or a semester commitment. Half-hour to 2 hour projects are offered several times a semester in the Main Classroom; we also sponsor opportunities for students to serve together on weekends and weekdays throughout the semester or to participate in a large scale days of service, such as Make A Difference Day or Do-Gooder Day. Being involved can be as simple as writing an email to your representatives regarding topics you care about being considered in the legislature.

How can I get involved with Cleveland State’s Volunteer Program?

The Volunteer Program is located in MC 146 and is under the auspices of the Department of Student Life. Please feel free to stop by to discuss community service opportunities. You can also receive weekly updates about volunteer opportunities in the Greater Cleveland area, civic engagement topics, and service programs offered on- and off-campus through the CSU Volunteer Yahoo group or email volunteer@csuohio.edu to join.

Be sure to get involved in our Social Issues series, participate in Make A Difference Day, mentor children with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, build homes with Habitat for Humanity, or join the on-campus chapter of the Lion’s Club. Still don’t see something you want to do? Please contact us for more information on various organizations that are seeking volunteers.