NEW SUPPORT PROGRAM: COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVE
Proposed by: Joanne Schell
1. Program Design:
The Thiel College Community Service Program would be set up as a dual program
Student Life and the Career Center.
All campus groups and organizations that receive Student Government funds currently
must perform some type of community service each semester. In addition, Student Life
has begun a program of on-campus service for students due to disciplinary reasons. But
beyond required service, voluntary community service is an important learning program
for all students to promote and support the value of a liberal arts education.
A Community Service Program could be administered jointly by Student Services and
Career Services in these ways:
Student Services would have the responsibility for assisting groups and
organizations to participate in meaningful service programs to fulfill Student
Government requirements. It would be suggested that in addition to fundraisers
for selected charitable organizations, students should also provide “hands on”
volunteer services for non-profit groups in the community.
Student Services would also be responsible for assigning service duties to
students for disciplinary reasons. These services should also be a meaningful
learning experience.
The Career Center would handle volunteerism as it relates to career and internship
goals.
It is suggested that all Thiel students perform some type of community service
that is related to their interests and/or academic majors. Students are already able
to receive academic credit toward a community service internship if all the
academic qualifications are met for that internship. However, with a greater
emphasis on service learning, Community Service internship positions could be
greatly enhanced.
For all other volunteer service related to student majors, the Career Center would
assist students with finding suitable community service projects that would be in
line with their career goals. For example; an accounting student could help out
with the financial aspects of the non-profit organization, or a JFJ student could
volunteer as a mentor at the community adolescent center, a Computer Science
major could lend a hand with IT support for community service organizations.
These opportunities can be an outstanding device for students to test out their
career goals, build self-esteem, and learn more about the needs of the community.
The program could easily be initiated by the start of the next academic year with
guidelines in place.
2. Budget
The Community Service Program could be put in place with existing personnel with two
exceptions. The Career Center is severely understaffed with only one full- time
professional on staff to handle the career and internship needs of all students and alumni.
In order to take on the largest part of the proposed initiative, the part-time Internship
Coordinator must be increased to full time service. The Career Center secretary would
need to be increased from ¾ time to full-time. Otherwise, it will be impossible for the
Career Center to take on additional responsibilities.
The budgets already in place for the Career Center and Student Services may have to
increase slightly to cover the cost of additional postage, printing, advertising, and travel.
3. Support for the Mission and Vision of Thiel College
In keeping with the Thiel College Mission and Vision, the Community Service Program
would:
Promote value for a lifetime
Expand knowledge
Promote ethical and responsible service
Develop leaders
Prepare students for careers
Engage students where they are and lead them on pathways to excellence
Provide an academic and co-curricular program which incorporates ethical and
global perspectives
Provide opportunities for students to discover and prepare for leadership in their
chosen careers
Engage students from the international populations into American culture and
service opportunities while celebrating diversity in the community
Cultivate thriving living and learning communities
4. Elements Necessary for Successful Implementation of Program
As mentioned under “Budget,” the needed personnel are already in place to meet the
program challenges. The responsible staff members would need to collaborate to meet
with community service leaders, determine policies and procedures, and compile a list of
all possible placements.
For students wanting to enhance their academic skills by working in the service agency, a
list of jobs specifically relating to Thiel majors would need to be developed. Once the
administrative work is completed, students will have an easy- to- use booklet of
community service and career opportunities to choose from.
Paper work would be completed and the student would then be connected to the
community service agency contact to make arrangements for volunteer activities. The
same would hold true for students interested in internships, organization volunteer
services or required disciplinary community service.
5. Support for Proposed Program
Thiel College has long held the position that Community Service is a necessary
component to educate the entire person. In addition, many studies have shown that
students who engage in community service while in college are much more likely to
continue providing community service as adults.
In the past, Thiel has sponsored various community service programs. At one point in the
mid 90’s, there was a grant funded community service director on campus and student
participation flourished. After the grant ended, the college did not pick up the of the
director’s salary and students were left again to fend for themselves in finding
community service projects. Naturally, student community service involvement declined
As an alternative, then, the Career Center was given the charge of directing the
community service activities when the part-time Internship Coordinator was given full
time status to assist with community service activities. Once again, student participation
in community service flourished. There were routinely hundreds of students involved in
community service programs. Students served as mentors in the local schools and there
was regular participation in “National Make A Difference Day” every October. Students
volunteered to help rake leaves for senior citizens, to clean up areas of the community,
and dozens of other projects.
The college fell on hard times again in the late 90’s, and the full time position in the
Career Center was cut again. Since that time, there has not been an organized community
service program on campus. Groups and organizations are pretty much on their own to
find community service projects, and the global heritage students are not required to
perform organized community service as they once were.
The Thiel faculty and staff have always been supportive of community service
opportunities. At one time, the Conservation Biology Class took on a community project
with Greenville Borough officials in a large composting project, and the Global Heritage
professors consulted with the Career Center to provide lists of possible community
service activities. Global student were required to perform at least two hours of
community service each semester.
An organized and centralized Community Service Program needs to be established in
order to make the program work well again. With proper funding, personnel, and
collaborative efforts, Thiel College can once again become well known for serving the
community, thereby enhancing public relations, and promoting admissions and
development initiatives.