OPPORTUNITIES
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Introduction
The Student Affairs Division provides a regular listing of community service opportunities for students. Students are strongly encouraged to consider volunteer opportunities as a way to provide service to others, complement their academic experience, and contribute to their personal development. The Social Change Model of Leadership Development, which guides the division’s student leadership training activities, heartily embraces community service as important preparation for citizenship in the 21st century.
The primary purpose is to enable student volunteers to integrate service experiences with academic fields, responsibility awareness, and life skills development.
General Goals of the Center
1. To support WCU’s Aspirations Statement by encouraging students to display the following traits of citizenship:
- behavior characterized by honesty, integrity, and responsibility
- service to others
- awareness of and sensitivity to the concerns of diverse people and cultures
- commitment to stewardship of the natural and cultural environment
- consciousness of self and others through self reflection
- commitment
- collaboration
- citizenship
Academic Outcomes
1. To improve students’ grade point averages
2. To increase students’ knowledge in major/discipline
3. To increase general knowledge of students
4. To improve students’ persistence (retention) at the university
5. To elevate students’ aspirations for advanced degrees
6. To improve students’ preparation for graduate or professional school
7. To improve students’ academic self-concept
8. To increase the amount of student time spent in service learning activities
with faculty
Civic Responsibility Outcomes
1. To serve the community through participation in community action
programs
2. To help others who are in difficulty
3. To help promote racial understanding
4. To influence social and community values
5. To influence the political structure of the community
Life Skills Outcomes
1. To enhance students’ leadership abilities
2. To improve students’ social self-confidence
3. To improve the following skills of students
- critical thinking
- interpersonal skills
- conflict resolution skills
- ability to work cooperatively
- ability to get along with people of different races and cultures
- understanding of problems facing the community and nation
4. To improve student satisfaction with the university’s
- leadership opportunities
- preparation for future careers
- relevance of coursework to everyday life
Glenn Bowen Volunteer In Service To America coordinator for WCU student volunteers in local schools, (828) 227-2276 or at gbowen@email.wcu.edu.
Linda Riouff, Assistant Dean for Student Development, coordinates community service and leadership development activities for the division. She may be reached at (828) 227-7206 or at riouff@email.wcu.edu.