Campus Service Spotlights

Bennington believes that a great education includes connections to the world outside the classroom—an idea so important that the College builds it into the academic structure through the yearly Field Work Term, which many students choose to spend at nonprofit and community organizations.

In her “Burlington College Shared Vision for 2010,” Jane Sanders declared, “Every aspect of the institution will be actively carrying out the community-based mission of the College.” As President of BC, Jane:

  • started the Institute for Civic Engagement,
  • affiliated the College with community institutions and organizations,
  • piloted a First-Year Seminar that includes components to introduce students to
  • community and teach responsible action, and
  • developed new majors that stress community based learning.

 

Castleton State College, along with the Energy Conservation and Amarak Food Services, is implementing phase two of the Green Campus Initiative: “Reducing Food Waste and Energy Conservation at Castleton.” CSC will analyze current food waste practices, research alternatives , and present a plan to the community. CSC will also launch an awareness campaign and light bulb exchange program to highlight energy efficiency.

13 Champlain College students just returned from another trip to New Orleans, this time rebuilding houses and bonding – from strangers to family. Fundraising for the trip included an e-gaming marathon and selling cloth hearts sewn to their tie-dye t-shirts as a way to take other's hearts on their journey.

Pamela O'Connor has spread service-learning at Rutland CCV since participating in VCC's Problem-Based Service-Learning Institute. Her Community Activism class renovated an apartment for the Rutland County Women Shelter; two Communication classes responded to Hurricane Katrina; and a Child Development class partnered with the Boys and Girls Club.

Goddard College has five students serving as AmeriCorps Education Award Only Members, who will serve a total of 2,250 hours in their communities and earn $6,500 for their education.


Classes, individuals, and student groups at Green Mountain College have taken a sincere and active interest in environmental programs that include ecosystem restoration and clean up projects, local food initiatives, and educational outreach.

Johnson State College launched the Bonner Leader Program. The program matches students to local service opportunities while providing them with leadership and career training as well as money to fund their education. The Bonner Program’s motto is “Access to Education, Opportunity to Serve.”

Instead of looking for volunteer opportunities outside of Vermont for an Alternative Break, Lyndon State College student Jillian Hall, Teddy Bear Student Service Award winner, organized a variety of service projects in her own community, including:

  • Preparing and serving food
  • Running bingo games
  • Picking up trash
  • Giving parents a night off
  • Spring cleaning at a local rehabilitation center

The Marlboro College Early Voices Project is an effort to videotape oral histories of Marlboro College’s first students, faculty, staff and friends in an effort to preserve first-person accounts of college life here.

Four Middlebury Alternative Break Trips went over February break to:

  • New York City (incarceration activism),
  • New Orleans (continued Katrina relief efforts),
  • the Dominican Republic (education and mentoring), and
  • Mexico (environment)

43 students completed about 2,410 hours of service.
NECI student volunteers set up regular meals for the Salvation Army, spend many hours at the Vermont Food Bank and Meals on Wheels, and raise money for Share Our Strength.
John works to create partnerships between Norwich, community organizations, and community members. He is the AmeriCorps Student Team Leader at Norwich, coordinating AmeriCorps members' community partnerships. John volunteers as a counselor at the local Boys and Girls Club, prepares a weekly community dinner, as well as organizes special events for Project Give.
More than 100 Saint Michael's College students participated in extended service trips, either domestic or international, during the 2005-06 school year.
Keena Kaye, an SIT graduate student, is the lead organizer for the SIT chapter of Net Impact's Race for a Reason and has increased this year's Race visibility with co-sponsorship by SIT/World Learning. With a goal to raise $10,000, all proceeds will go to benefit Global Grassroots, to fund new projects designed by refugees who have fled to Chad from Darfur, Sudan.
Southern Vermont College partnered with the American Cancer Society of Vermont to bring the first chapter of Colleges Against Cancer to Vermont. Students organized a Relay for Life team that raised over $1,000.

This year marks the tenth annual Humanics in Action Day at Springfield College. Begun by a group of New Student Orientation Leaders and Dr. Peter Polito, the 1998 Distinguished Professor of Humanics, this event has revitalized a campus tradition and puts into action the College’s Humanics Philosophy of educating students in spirit, mind and body for leadership in service to humanity.

The joint efforts of Northeast Kingdom Farms and Sterling College have provided the College with sites for valuable experiential learning while at the same time providing the farms with a small but vital workforce to help farmers make positive changes in their operations. “Together local farmers and Sterling College community are not only transforming the agricultural landscape of our region but modeling a service-learning approach to educating future farmers.”
In the Fall of 2006, more than 70 people attended the inaugural annual “Community Matchmaking Event” designed to bring together UVM faculty, students, and community partners to create collaborations.
In keeping with Vermont Law School's dedication to experiential learning, the South Royalton Legal Clinic offers second and third year JD students the unique opportunity to represent clients in actual civil cases, providing help for persons otherwise unable to afford counsel.

VTC students provide tutoring and emotional support to students in three elementary schools, five daycares, and the Kimball Library.


The Montpelier Community Justice Center and Woodbury’s Mediation and Prevention & Community Development programs have worked collaborated to bring diverse groups together to help create a healthier Central Vermont community.

We want to hear from YOU!
Please send your Campus Spotlights to John Coutley (jcoutley@middlebury.edu)