Resources for Service Organizations

First, a little something about language...

Civic Engagement: Civic engagement is the term we use to include a variety of activities which impact the common good. Community service/volunteerism, philanthropy/fundraisers, collections/drives, advocacy/education, community research, service-learning and political activity all fall under this term.

Community Partner: Community Partners are organizations, usually non-profit, which utilize volunteers to accomplish their mission. They represent a variety of issue areas. Clemson University has official relationships with a number of community partners and includes their information in various databases found on the civic engagement webpage.

Clemson Service Council

The Clemson Service Council is comprised of one representative of each graduate and undergraduate officially recognized student service organization. Organizations are encouraged to create or designate one officer position to be their liaison to the CSC. The CSC will meet one time per semester, with the first meeting being a half-day retreat in the fall, followed by a spring meeting held in January. Between meetings, the CSC will receive relevant email information to relay back to their organization, and will be asked to supply information to Clemson regarding the civic engagement work being done by their organization. Organizations can submit their CSC representatives name, email and organization name to Jennifer Shurley.

Find Civic Engagement Opportunities

Looking for civic engagement opportunities and activities for your members? There are several resources to help you stay informed.

First, be sure to check out our three databases located on the homepage:

• Connect with Community Partners gives you a list of local non-profit agencies and a description of their general volunteer opportunities and needs.
• Browse Service Events gives you a list of one time civic engagement opportunities, and is also a place where you can post your organizations events that are open to the campus community. To post your event, email Jennifer Shurley for information.
• The Donate database is a list of items that community partners have requested. Use this database to decide what kind of "drive" is most needed in the community.

You can also sign up to join the Civic Engagement Listserv and receive weekly emails about upcoming opportunities that you or your members may wish to participate in. You can post your organizations civic engagement events on this listserv by adding them as a one time event in the Browse Service Events database- email Jennifer Shurley for more information.

Finally, take advantage of Volunteer Fairs held on campus. These events bring community partners to campus to display their needs and opportunities. The annual fall Volunteer Fair took place Tuesday, August 21, 2-5 p.m. on Bowman Field as a part of Tiger Prowl. More than 20 community partners were on campus to represent their opportunities. Throughout the school year, additional Mini-Volunteer Fairs will be held in the Union Loggia, bringing two community partners at a time to campus to display their needs.

Log Civic Engagement Activities

Individuals and organizations can log their civic engagement activities through ClemsonCounts. Organizations can utilize ClemsonCounts to track and record member civic engagement activity and create organization reports on member civic engagement activity. Organizations can appoint ClemsonCounts Administrators who can pull these reports and also enter information on behalf of members. Instructions for Group Use are found on the ClemsonCounts login page. Email Jennifer Shurley to request admin access for your organization. 

Funds for Civic Engagement Activities

Visit the Fund Your Project section of the civic-engagement webpage for information on various financial opportunities.

Recognition and Award Opportunities

Visit the Civic Engagement Annual Awards page to learn more about application procedures for the Student Organization of the Year for Exceptional Community Service and the Outstanding Community Service Collaboration awards.