Explore meaningful ways to give back to the community, grow personally, and build lasting connections. Be Good. Do Good.
Explore community and service opportunities on and off campus through Laker Life.
Questions? Reach out to Jennifer Joyce or Kevin O'Connor—They're here to help!
Builds leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Encourages lifelong habits of service and social responsibility.
Help students explore career paths and build upon résumés.
Connects students with peers, faculty, staff and local organizations.
Community Service vs. Service Learning vs. Philanthropy
Volunteerism and community service performed by students for community benefit. This service can be, but is not necessarily integrated with a particular program of study. This may include structured projects (days of service), smaller group projects, fund-raising events, or individual volunteerism, which is acknowledged by the campus.
A credit-bearing educational strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience and strengthen communities. Contact the Office of Experiential Learning to learn more about Service learning.
Most commonly associated with monetary donations or resource contributions. Philanthropy supports charitable causes, nonprofit organizations, and long-term solutions to social issues. While it may not always involve direct engagement like community service, philanthropy plays a critical role in sustaining the organizations and initiatives that make service possible.
With Desen's House, we completed a wide range of tasks. In order to get everything ready for the ladies Desen's House works with to stay, we helped with cleaning, painting the walls, and painting the doors. I can't wait to work with them again!
Community service is an important aspect of our sorority! We had the opportunity of volunteering at the Pumpkin Festival hosted by the YMCA. Seeing how much the community enjoyed the event was such a fulfilling experience.
Psi Phi Gamma had a great time giving back to the community. The hard work that we and the rest of the SUNY Oswego community put into helping others gives me great satisfaction and hope for the future of Oswego’s student body and the overall community.
It was an eye-opener for us just because we were once in the shoes of all the students who came for that program. All of us being Latino students, it must have felt good, listening to someone who is just like us.
Students from the Hall Newman Center have been fortunate enough to work with ARISE in Oswego, helping to build and install ramps for people in the community. Students get to use power tools, learn more about their community, and put their skills to use!
The Civic Engagement Coalition works with the Civic Engagement and Community Services Program Coordinator to promote democratic practice and values among students, faculty, and staff; to create and coordinate purposeful experiences within and beyond the classroom; and to develop knowledge, skills, motivation, and practice necessary for becoming responsible, engaged citizens in a pluralistic, democratic society. The coalition is composed of students, faculty, and staff who are interested in furthering the mission of the committee and is chaired by Dr. Allison Rank.
The committee meets biweekly during the academic year to report on and make recommendations about curricular and co-curricular civic engagement activity.
Want to learn more or join? Contact Allison Rank, [email protected]
Allison Rank (Chair), Vote Oswego and CLASE - Politics
Karen Archibee, Extended Learning – Academic Planning Coordinator
Bethany Cole, Admissions
Mallory Bower, Experiential Learning (EXCEL)/First Year Experience
Jenn Joyce, EXCEL/Service Learning Coordinator
Emily Estrada, CLASE - Sociology
Terrian Garvis, James A. Triandiflou Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Transformative Practice
Taylor Dumsky, Graduate Studies
Mike Paestella, Student Engagement and Leadership
Kathleen Locklear, CoBE – Risk Management
Lowell Hutchinson, ARTSwego
Zachary Vickery, Library - Archives
Catherine Carra, Library – Gov Docs
Leigh Viscomi, Residence Life and Housing
Jackie Wallace, Career Services
Kelsey Jones, Student Engagement and Leadership
David Crider, CMA - COM (BRC)
Andrea Vickery, CMA - COM
Celient Duran*, CLASE - CRJ
Jason Zenor*, CMA - COM
J.R. Slosson*, CLASE - GEO
Matt McLesky*, CLASE - CRJ
Ulas Kaplan, CLASE - HDV
Justin Dickerson, Orientation