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Service-Learning at AU An Overview for Non-Profits

Please refer to the list below to learn about the Service-Learning programs AU offers its students. For any questions, reach out to sgupta@american.edu

Community Service-Learning Program (CSLP)

Description: Students participating in CSLP complete 40 hours of community service during the semester with a non-profit working in a field related to the student’s coursework. Through a series of guided reflections, students in the CSLP cohort make critical connections between their coursework and their service experience in order to deepen their learning experience and develop hands-on skills.

Non-Profit Commitment: Non-profits introduce student(s) to the context of their work and provide student(s) with 35 hours of volunteer work during a semester (Mid Jan- End of Apr., Sept.-Beginning of Dec.)

Community-Based Learning Courses (CB)

Description: CB courses provide a classroom of students with the opportunity to apply skills learned during instruction to complete 20 hours of community service or a project for a non-profit. Examples of this include 20 hours of translation completed by a language class, volunteer recruitment videos made by a digital literacy class, etc.

Non-Profit Commitment: Non-profits work with the course professor to develop a set of projects/provide 20 service hours per student.

Eagle Endowment for Public & Community Service (EE)

Description: The Eagle Endowment provides students and student clubs the opportunity to submit applications for grants which equip them with the necessary resources to embark on community service initiatives in partnership with non-profit organizations. EE bestows grants ranging from $100 to $1000, catering to those who demonstrate a genuine need to transform their ideas into action. Recipients of these grants have one year to implement their project and receive mentorship throughout the process.

Non-Profit Commitment: Non-profits collaborate with students to maximize project impact.

President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)

Description: PVSA recognizes students who commit to a minimum of 100 uncompensated hours of community service over a span of 12 months. Through the utilization of the GivePulse application, students record their volunteer hours throughout the year. This tracking system ensures that students’ efforts are recognized by the Office of the President of the United States.

Non-Profit Commitment: Non-profits verify service hours using GivePulse.

Upcoming Events

8/26: Fall Semester Begins

8/28, 12 - 2 p.m.: FallNonprofit Networking Fair 

9/4: CSLP Students begin looking for nonprofit organizations to engage with for 40 hours of service-learning.

11/27-12/1: Thanksgiving Break

12/6: Last Day of Spring Classes

12/9: Verified hours in GivePulse due for CSLP students

Student Highlights

  • Ainsley Gallagher (Junior, Public Health) worked with Hope Multiplied in the Spring 2023 semester as a CSLP student where she aided distributing over 1200 meals to students experiencing food insecurity and executed a food distribution providing pantry staples to over 30 families in need. She was then hired by Hope Multiplied as their Program Assistant!
  • Melanie Klein (Junior, SPA) was recognized at Thrive DC, an organization committed to ending and preventing homelessness in DC, on National Volunteer Day for her outstanding work every Thursday to prepare meals and provide administrative assistance.
    Check out Thrive DC's IG post here