Education for service
By Jaclyn Dillman
Distribution Manager
According to its “official strategic plan,” it is the goal of the University of Indianapolis to enhance student engagement in learning, leadership and service.
“Opportunities to help the community are endless at UIndy. You just have to know where to look,” said Community Partnership and Service Coordinator Marianna Foulkrod.
Laurelwood, Circle K and College Mentors for Kids are just a few of the on-campus organizations through which students reach out and touch the community.
Laurelwood is an after-school program for students in the Laurelwood community. Children from the community are encouraged to participate in activities, such as arts and crafts, sponsored by UIndy students.
Much like its high school counterpart, Key Club, Circle K is a service organization supported and operated by the students. Circle K sponsors community service projects weekly in the Indianapolis area.
“On-campus groups like Circle K or Laurelwood are perfect ways for UIndy students to give back to the community,” Foulkrod said.
College Mentors for Kids is a service group on campus that pairs UIndy students with first through fourth grade students. Students who participate in College Mentors for Kids are paired with a “Little Buddy.”
“I love seeing the excitement on the kids faces when they get to campus. College Mentors is a great way for students from all majors to give back to the community in a fun way,” said freshman Claire Lehman.
Aside from these groups the Community Programs Center (CPC), located in Good Hall room 201, is a treasure trove of information and opportunity for students to get involved in service.
“My job is to go to schools, not-for-profit organizations, senior centers and other places in the community and see what the needs are,” Foulkrod said. “Then we pair students with ways to get involved in their areas of interest.”
Students who are interested in getting involved can make appointments with the CPC and the advisors can pair them with community partners doing things that they enjoy.
UIndy even offers a minor in civic engagement and community leadership. This minor requires 18 credit hours and includes class in service learning, social work and volunteerism.
If UIndy students do community service, they can turn in sheets to the CPC and have those hours credited on their transcripts.
According to CPC administrative assistant Stephanie Johnson, the CPC has recorded 1,962 hours of community service performed by students, and in the future they would love to increase those numbers.
“The number of students who volunteer on campus is great, but we can’t wait for those numbers to expand,” Foulkrod said.
