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Civic Participation and Community Leadership

Get Involved, Take Action

Bridgewater State University offers a variety of activities designed to educate and engage our community members to practice empathy, think critically, respond to community problems and participate in individual and collective action.

Academic Initiatives

Dr. Castagna Lacet leading a discussion in her community organization class

Social Justice Course List

To highlight and promote academic courses for students interested in learning about social justice, the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice compiles and widely distributes a list of courses with social justice content every fall and spring semester.

 

Civic Education and Community Leadership Minor

The Civic Education and Community Leadership minor is provide students with an interdisciplinary curriculum that promotes leadership and community service; build on the university’s service learning mission; and, broaden campus efforts to build partnerships with local and state community organizations.

For further information, interested students should contact the coordinator of the minor, Dr. Kevin Donnelly (kevin.donnelly@tamilfolksongs.com).

Student Involvement

Photo of BSU student volunteers at End Hunger New England packing meals for folks experiencing homelessness. They are spaced out across 4 tables in groups, and are wearing masks, gloves and hairnets and looking at the camera

Civic Engagement Badging

The Civic Engagement Badge is designed to encourage and recognize students’ involvement with civic engagement activities inside and outside of the classroom. The Civic Engagement Badge supports BSU’s commitment to engage every student to become more civically minded and engaged through participation in curricular and co-curricular activities. To earn a badge, students must engage in civic-related activities and/or service learning courses and submit an activity verification form with reflection through the Engage BSU platform. Once a badge is earned it can be added to personal and professional LinkedIn pages to recognize the important work students are involved in during their college career.

Additional information and activities can be found in the civic engagement checklist on Engage BSU.

 

Community Service/Annual Events

The Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice encourages members of the Bridgewater State University community to become life-long engaged citizens in our local, regional, national, and global communities. This is accomplished by providing students with a variety of volunteer and community engagement opportunities in the Southeastern Massachusetts area and beyond.

 

MRISJ Justice Fellows

The Justice Fellow program pairs undergraduate students with a nonprofit organization or campus-based initiative for a community-based learning experience to do positive social change work.

 

A member of the Asian Student Union talks about the group at the student involvement fair

Student Organizations

The Center for Student Engagement is part of your journey from Orientation through Commencement. We encourage all students to explore, experience and lead! This department oversees or facilitates programs like Orientation, Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Rondileau Student Union, Family Programs, Student Organization Management, and much more.

 

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) is a student body dedicated to serving the collective interests of the BSU community, preparing the community for effective living in a democratic society, advocating for the students' rights and needs, and encouraging self-reliance in the Association's search for truth and justice.

 

Fraternity & Sorority Life

Students involved with fraternity and sorority life at BSU have the opportunity to gain experiences in leadership and scholarship  and are encouraged to participate in service with their peers and community. 

Community & University Relationships

Dr. Beverly Tatum headshot

Civic Speaker Series

MRISJ’s Civic Speaker Series highlights civic leaders from our community and across the world. This signature event series inspires attendees to spark conversation, share ideas, and act for social change.