Community Service as a Cornerstone of the IWU Experience
While you are likely enrolled in a degree program to acquire the knowledge and skills required to launch a career in the field that interests you most, you will find that Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) offers more than just an academic experience for students. On our campus, community engagement in education is a top priority, and we encourage all students to find ways to get involved and give back to the community. The benefits of community service for students are virtually endless, and this commitment to service is a cornerstone of the IWU experience.
The Role of Community Service in IWU’s Mission
At IWU, we believe that service-learning in higher education plays a critical role in character development and personal growth. During your time on campus, you will have the opportunity to serve others in the way that Jesus taught us and become an integral part of our vibrant community.
Service as a Core Value
From the academic programs that we offer to our campus life initiatives, we embed Christian values into everything we do at IWU. However, service is considered to be the core value from which all other values stem. A life lived in service is a life well-lived, and we believe in fostering a culture of service on our campus to set our students up for a lifetime of giving back to the community.
Fostering a Culture of Service
We can foster a culture of service both intentionally and organically by providing students with an opportunity to get involved in various activities and organizations. From student volunteer opportunities to university community service programs, we offer many ways for students to begin serving others in a way that they are passionate about.
Community Service Opportunities at IWU
At IWU, we strive to provide students and faculty members with various opportunities for community service, allowing them to choose events, activities, and organizations that align with their personal interests and passions. All of the community service opportunities at IWU allow us to fulfill our mission of providing students with a Christ-centered academic experience during their time on campus.
Campus-Wide Service Initiatives
Our university community service programs are campus-wide initiatives designed to bring the entire community together to support a common cause. For example, we may encourage students and faculty members to donate to a clothing drive for a charitable organization or to participate in a landscaping project for a community organization in need. These large-scale service initiatives allow us to live out the mission of Christ on a daily basis on campus.
Academic Service-Learning Programs
The American Red Cross defines academic service-learning as a teaching method that blends community service into the classroom learning experience. Given our Christ-centered approach to higher education, this teaching method is the perfect complement to the courses taught at IWU. Regardless of the academic pathway that you pursue, you will be able to enjoy academic service-learning programs throughout your tenure on campus.
Student-Led Service Organizations
In addition, students can join and participate in student-led service organizations. Through these organizations, you can connect with other students on campus, make new friends, and play a pivotal role in leading and implementing community service efforts. Some of the student-led service organizations at IWU include the Social Work Club and Students For Life.
Impact of Community Service on IWU Students
On the surface, it may seem like community service is done to improve the livelihoods of others. While that is true, it's also worth noting that community service can benefit the individual giving back. At IWU, we have found that these are some of the most profound benefits of community service for students:
Personal Growth and Development
Through volunteer opportunities and community engagement initiatives, students will begin to see the world around them in a different life. These experiences often allow them to experience the world from the perspective of others, giving them fresh insight into how they can best live their lives as Christians. Personal growth and development are among the most significant benefits of participating in community service projects and initiatives.
Building a Sense of Purpose
By giving back to the community and living a life of service to others, students will begin to see that they have a sense of purpose that extends beyond getting good grades and earning their degrees. In many ways, they will start to understand how they can align their professional experiences with service opportunities, allowing them to continue living a life of service well after graduation.
Strengthening Connections and Community
In addition to enjoying personal growth through community service, students will also find that these opportunities and experiences allow them to become more connected to the community surrounding campus. By recognizing the role that they play in their campus community as well as the community at large, students will feel more welcome and at home at IWU.
The Ripple Effect: IWU’s Impact on the Community
While it's clear that our students benefit from our commitment to community engagement in education, we have also noticed that our service-based learning experiences have a ripple effect on the surrounding community. These community engagement initiatives benefit those in Marion and beyond by:
Addressing Local Needs
Many of our campus-wide service initiatives are designed to address specific needs in the local community. For example, we may host a food drive to help curb hunger in the community, or we may work to collect new books for the local school children who live in Marion.
Long-Term Community Partnerships
Our longstanding tradition of giving back to the community has allowed us to form lasting partnerships with other businesses and organizations in the local area. Through these partnerships, we can better identify the needs of the community and provide our students with a more well-rounded experience on campus.
Inspiring a Culture of Giving Back
The impact of community service at IWU can be felt throughout Marion and the surrounding region, and our efforts have inspired many others also to pursue a life lived in service. We are proud that our efforts often encourage people on- and off-campus to pursue service opportunities to live a more Christ-centered life.
How Students Can Get Involved
All IWU students are encouraged to get involved and participate in community engagement opportunities. As a student on campus, you can choose how and when you want to give back. Some of the ways that IWU students can get involved in our community service efforts include:
Joining Service Organizations
We are proud to have dozens of student-led community service organizations available for students to participate in. Not only do these organizations allow you to give back to the community and those around you, but they also give you a chance to meet other students who have similar interests as you. Participating in student organizations is one of the best ways to acclimate to life on campus.
Participating in Service-Learning Programs
Service-learning programs are incorporated into many courses on campus, allowing students to see how service can effortlessly fit into their academic lives. Participating in these innovative programs can be both enlightening and rewarding, allowing you to see how to balance a life of service with your career.
Volunteering Independently
Another option available to students is independent volunteering. When volunteering on their own, students can connect with organizations in need and give back in a way that feels personal and relatable. For example, a student could spend a few hours each weekend walking dogs at a local animal shelter.
The Future of Community Service at IWU
Community service has long been an integral part of the IWU experience, but we want to continue prioritizing community engagement in education on our campus. In the years to come, we plan to begin:
Expanding Service Opportunities
Our administrators, faculty members, and students are always collaborating and looking for new ways to expand service opportunities. We welcome all voices and input as we work to expand service opportunities, not only on campus but also throughout the community and even abroad. Our goal is to ensure that every IWU student has an opportunity to give back to others in a way that aligns with their personal values and interests, so we will be actively working to expand service opportunities in the near term.
Continuing the Legacy of Service
We are proud of our Christ-centered approach to education, and we want to continue our legacy of service. We hope to encourage our current students, as well as our alumni, to continue to find ways to give back to the community and to live a life of service, just as Christ would want them to do.
Enjoy Personal Growth Through Community Service at Indiana Wesleyan University
Giving back to the community is an important part of the IWU experience. Our administrators, faculty members, and students work together to fulfill our Christ-centered mission, which emphasizes the importance of kindness, humility, integrity, and service, among other core Christian values. On campus, you will discover a variety of student volunteer opportunities and other community engagement initiatives that allow you to become involved in campus life while contributing to the surrounding community.
Explore our degree programs and request more information about campus life at Indiana Wesleyan University today.
