Opportunities for Service

There are many opportunities to become involved in service-learning and engagement at UMass, within the five college consortium, and beyond. Here are just a few examples of programs interested in working with our Masters Track students:

Citizen Scholars Program offers students an environment where they can think critically about social issues and act creatively to produce change. Citizen Scholars take a curriculum of five courses over the span of two years. The courses include 60 hours of community service or community-based projects each semester (about four hours a week). In this academic service learning program, students develop knowledge and skills needed to be an effective community leader -- one who can work collaboratively with others to devise and implement strategies for social change. Connecting real experiences in the community to classes brings learning to life. This learning community around citizen engagement is open to track student participation as TAs or in other capacities.

Community Service-Learning Faculty Fellowships Program was initiated in 1994 as part of an effort to promote Community Service Learning (CSL) at the University. Unit Grants and Teaching Awards are given to faculty to increase or improve the integration of service-learning and course content. Faculty in this program would greatly benefit from the assistance of track students.

IMPACT! - Living Together, Learning Together, and Making a Difference - IMPACT! students live together in a first-year living-learning community with others dedicated to community service. They explore social issues in small classes reserved just for IMPACT! students. Through this program, students create a close-knit community not only of students, but also of faculty and staff who are committed to service and want to work toward positive social change. Up to twenty-four IMPACT! students live together in Van Meter residence hall. Students may volunteer with Impact and propose programming.

Five College Committee for Community Based Learning are a committed group of practitioners -- faculty as well as professional staff -- that has been meeting to share information and explore ways to build and expand Community Based Learning within the 5 colleges. Students may request to attend meetings and learn how inter-institutional and regional planning occurs regarding service-learning.