WHAT IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT?

It's the sense of connectedness that people feel with one another, plus the willingness to participate in community problem-solving. "Community" can be local, national or global. It means getting involved; making a difference.

Civic engagement is more than just volunteer work. A cornerstone for civic engagement is giving back to the community, but it also involves "service learning."

Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that combines service work in the community with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach good citizenship skills civic responsibility, all while strengthening communities - near and far.  Higher education has an urgent and fundamental obligation to renew its role as an agent of democracy.  We do that, in part, through "civic engagement."

 

Our Misson

The mission of the Office of Civic Engagement (OCE) is to strengthen democratic values and instill a sense of civic and social responsibility in UMA students. Our objective is to empower students to become informed citizens and lifelong activists. OCE emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community by increasing and enhancing opportunities for students to become agents of positive social change. UMA is dedicated to graduating students that are civically aware, knowledgeable, skilled and committed to the greater good within local, regional, national and global communities.

We encourage all faculty and students to define education as experiential and relevant to their civic lives and their communities through curricular and co-curricular activities.

What does the OCE have to offer you?

• Alternative Spring Breaks - trips to New Orleans and Harrisburg, PA
  A "summer plunge" into civic engagement - 5 days, 5+ ways to serve the
  community surrounding Augusta
• yoUMAtter mentoring program - mentor at-risk youth 1-3 hours per week
  at the Augusta Boys & Girls Club
• Community Gardens - grow food to give to area food banks and soup
  kitchens
• A lengthy list of community partners that need help
• Technical assistance to faculty that facilitates the incorporation of
  service learning inside the classroom
• Opportunities to gain leadership skills
• Work study, Presidential Scholarship, cooperative education and
  internship credits for working at OCE
• The opportunity to work on an issue that matters to you
• Public forums and other events designed to invigorate our
  participatory democratic system of governance

 

Why get involved?

• Apply hands-on, practical experience that connects college learning
  with real life situations
• Build your resume with experiences that will increase your
  employability
• Explore career opportunities and skills that will generalize to your
  field of study
• See the world from different points of view - experience how connected
  community members are to one another
• Gain life-long skills in citizenship and activism
• Participate in helping the greater good

 

Come join us at the Office of Civic Engagement. Let's change the world together.

 

For more information

Contact the OCE staff:

Valerie Marsh, Coordinator of Civic Engagement - 621-3158

Jennifer Zabko, Americorps*VISTA - 621-3173

Office of Civic Engagement, Augusta
Randall Student Center 206
1-877-862-1234, ext. 3158