Programs and Opportunities
The Office of Community Engagement offers many ways for you to be a part of our community through volunteer opportunities such as tutoring, event support and sharing your skills.
We can connect you with many agencies in our community in need of a helping hand. A hallmark of Monarch pride is that our students, athletic teams, faculty, and staff are always working in our community to improve the lives of others.
Why Serve and Why it Matters
Service is just one way to make a meaningful difference in the larger world long before you complete your degree. There are so many ways to apply your academic knowledge to real-world issues. Helping area organizations accomplish their goals helps you accomplish yours as well:
- Growing your lived experience of the diversity that shapes us
- Gaining key leadership skills
- Increasing self-confidence
- Strengthening critical thinking skills
- Practicing effective conflict resolution
In January 2020, he Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching awarded ¹ÏÉñÍø the , an elective designation that indicates institutional commitment to community engagement.
It is a significant part of the University's mission to contribute to the well-being of our communities through advancing scholarship, research, and creative activities; enriching student learning and achievement through enhanced teaching; creating direct impact with hands-on service; and sharing the expertise of our faculty, staff, and students to address community needs.
Track Your Impact
Whether you are participating in service for enjoyment, as a part of an organization requirement, or to just give back to others, we want to know about it! Your volunteer hours are a record of your dedication and commitment to meeting community needs.
Use to keep track of your impact. Helper Helper also allows our campus and community partners to post volunteer opportunities that are available to students, faculty and staff. In addition to connecting you with opportunities, the platform allows you to track your hours that you volunteer elsewhere.
If you have any questions or you'd like to post opportunities of your own by becoming an administrator, email engage@odu.edu.