UNL offers new Civil Engagement program

Nancy Mitchell said when worked as a copywriter years ago, she often thought "I could be using what I'm doing for a much greater good."

Mitchell, the director of Undergraduate Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has tried to live by that mantra ever since. She has done her part, volunteering for several organizations, including serving on boards for the Humane Society and the Red Cross. Now, Mitchell wants to help students get more involved in the community as well.

Mitchell, along with Linda Major, assistant to the vice chancellor of Student Affairs, has created a new civic engagement program for UNL students. The program enables students to graduate with a Certificate in Civic Engagement on their official transcripts.

Civic engagement is loosely defined as connecting classroom learning with the opportunity to make a difference in the community.

Students involved in the voluntary program will follow a two to four year timeline, during which they will learn about different civic engagement values like leadership, diversity and communication. There also will be a student-designed final project and a presentation of the things they have learned.

"We wanted to allow students to link the things they are already doing," Mitchell said. "We wanted the program to help students develop and align their prior interests."

Major added, "The program thoughtfully and intelligently links outside the classroom activities with inside the classroom learning," she said. "It creates a holistic college experience instead of having two separate lives."

Both Mitchell and Major talked about the importance of students becoming active, engaged citizens in their communities.

"Whether it's a university community, a national community or even a global community, students can help change the world in whatever way they wish," Mitchell said.

Major agreed, saying the program can push students to get more involved in an issue they are passionate about.

"You can start from dropping $5 in a can and progress to become an active problem solver for an issue," she said.

Juan Franco, vice chancellor of student affairs, said he hopes the program encourages students to volunteer more.

"This is an avenue to recognize students who are already engaged in community service," Franco said. "I think it says a lot about a student's character if they're willing to do things to help other people out."

To earn the Certificate in Civic Engagement, students will not have to take any extra classes or spend more time at the university. Mitchell said they have worked to make the program cohesive with courses that students are already taking.

Students in the program will take four, three-credit courses that they can select from specially designated civic engagement (CE) classes. Three of the four courses have to be upper-level classes. The program is open to all majors.

Besides these classes, participants will also be involved in a series of student-designed experiences on campus, in the community or beyond that support the CE learning values. The program is kicking off this semester with a small pilot group of 22 students.

There is already strong support for the program from the university community. Major said the deans of every college have said they support it.

So why would students want to have a Certificate in Civic Engagement?

Franco said it will make students stand out when it comes to job interviews, internships and even graduate school.

"Employers are looking for someone with integrity and good character," he said.

Mitchell agreed. "If students are trying to get into grad school or med school, a certificate like this can look really good," she said. "Employers, too, want students with a civic capacity to make the world a better place."

Mitchell also emphasized that the certificate doesn't have any kind of agenda. "Students can express themselves in ways that are appropriate for them," she said.

Besides the job benefits that can come from a CE certificate, research has shown that volunteering helps people's mental health as well, Major said.

"Engaging in the community makes us feel better," she said. "We feel good when we give back."

Major said this, with experience, having volunteered on a number of boards for United Way and for local substance abuse agencies. She also volunteered with a group of students in New Orleans in 2007 after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city.

"It's just really important to be someone who gives back," Major said.

Mitchell added that studies have shown people who volunteer are generally happier and less likely to be depressed.

"People are happier if they have a purpose," she said.

Students who decide to become involved in the program will also have the opportunity to contract a class that is not already designated as a CE course. There will be two civic engagement coaches for students to get help from. Linda Moody, director of service learning for the Center for Civic Engagement , and Kris Baack, director of leadership education for the Center for Civic Engagement , will be the coaches.