Civic Engagement & Community Service

enhance the lives of others & your own

Whether building homes for low-income families, helping to feed people or tutoring students in a developing nation, you’re making an impact in the communities around you, creating a positive environment for everyone.

You’ll have countless opportunities to make a difference here, starting with a service trip during the summer before your first year. And, we help you track your service hours to meet volunteer requirements for your Greek organization or polish your résumé.

Based on the understanding that civic engagement is a vital part of a liberal arts education, the David ’69 and Sharon Johnson Center for Civic Engagement is committed to providing opportunities that allow students, faculty and staff to learn about and reflect upon their roles as active, informed citizens within the community. By fostering a campus culture that inspires civic leadership and social responsibility, the center continuously supports our mission.

SU GIVE

Each August, the newest class at Susquehanna University participates in a proud service tradition: SU GIVE (Susquehanna University: Get Into Volunteer Experiences).

This event brings together first-year students, faculty, staff and orientation team members to complete volunteer service projects at locations throughout the central Susquehanna Valley. Each year, hundreds of volunteers help out at places like the Susquehanna Campus Garden, Far Point Animal Rescue, Grayson View Assisted Living, Haven Ministry, Kidsgrove, Mostly Mutts Dog Shelter, Sunbury YMCA, SUNCOM Industries, Susquehanna Children’s Center and more.

This year’s SU Give will be held on Friday, Sept. 2 from 2 to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The registration deadline is Aug. 20. If you would like to be grouped with specific individuals, please make your request in the “unique needs” section of the registration form.

Four people painting a white wall inside a room. One person is on a ladder painting near the ceiling, while the others work on different areas of the wall. The room has a bare light bulb hanging from the ceiling.

In The Community

Our students work with organizations throughout the community, including:

Ashburn’s Animals on a Mission
Dauntless Hook and Ladder Company
East Snyder Community Garden
Girls on the Run
Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA
Meals for Seals
Ronald McDonald House of Danville
Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library
Selinsgrove Meals on Wheels
Transitions Women’s Shelter
Union Snyder Historical Society

Learn More

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SU SERVE

Students and alumni alike step it up each April with volunteer service near campus and regions beyond.

Two people wearing maroon shirts with "Susquehanna University SPLASH!" written on them are smiling and interacting while working together. They appear to be at a volunteer or community service event.

SU SPLASH

This one-week service learning opportunity gives a select group of incoming first-year students a unique chance to get involved.

A group of 15 people pose outdoors with a colorful bird mascot. Some are sitting, while others stand. They are smiling and dressed in casual attire. A building and trees are visible in the background on a sunny day.

Voting From Campus

Susquehanna University is committed to fostering student involvement in democracy.

People are gathered outdoors at a community or school event. A table labeled "Service Clubs" is set up with various items on display. Attendees are interacting, and the scene is lively with trees and buildings in the background.

Volunteer & Service Clubs

Make a difference on campus and in the community by participating in one of Susquehanna University’s many volunteer and service organizations.

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Volunteer & Serve Abroad

Every student at Susquehanna studies off campus-whether abroad or in the U.S. for at least two weeks, with many of those trips include volunteerism and service learning.

Four students walk on a green lawn surrounded by trees, with a red-brick building featuring white columns in the background. They appear to be chatting and are casually dressed, creating a relaxed, campus atmosphere.

Blood Drives

We partner with the American Red Cross to sponsor blood drives on campus five times throughout the year.

A classroom filled with attentive college students, both male and female, sit at desks with notebooks open. The room has maroon chairs and wooden desks. Some students wear glasses, and the atmosphere appears focused and engaged.

Hunger and Poverty Simulations

Students experience a little of what it’s like to be in need and learn what they can do to help.

Person crouching in a garden, using a small tool to work the soil. They wear a maroon t-shirt and gray shorts, with white sneakers. Green plants surround them, and they are holding a bottle in one hand. The setting is sunny and outdoors.

Sowing Change

Working with Bucknell University, our Sowing Change initiative is a network of community and campus gardens that aims to strengthen regional food security.

A classroom scene with a teacher and students engaging in a science activity. Students are gathered around a table with various materials, while the teacher, in a blue checked shirt, is speaking to them. Shelves in the background hold lab equipment.

Curricular Service-Learning

Faculty from various disciplines work with community partner organizations to create project-based community learning opportunities for students.

David ’69 and Sharon Johnson Center for Civic Engagement

The center was dedicated in March 2014, and through David and Sharon’s support, more students have attended SU SPLASH pre-orientation and received scholarships for exemplary service-learning work. Because of the work of the Johnson Center for Civic Engagement, we have been recognized on the President’s Higher Education Community Service every year since 2006 and have twice earned distinction.

People work together in a garden on a sunny day. One person digs with a shovel, while others watch and help. They are surrounded by sunflowers and greenery, with a wheelbarrow in the background.

Partner With US

We want to enhance the university’s presence in our community through partnerships with local and regional organizations. Our partners benefit from students’ skills, knowledge and interest in learning more about social issues.

Our students have a variety of interests, including children and families, community and economic development, environmental conservation and sustainability, animal welfare, food access and security, and arts and culture.

They’ve built valuable skills and expertise in communications, accounting and finance, research, administration and management, social media and public relations, as well as working with senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, children and animals.

Partner With the Center

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Have Questions?

Contact Us

Johnson Center for Civic Engagement

514 University Ave.
Selinsgrove, Pa. 17870

Get Directions

Location

Degenstein Campus Center, lower level

Campus Map