Scholars Program Requirements

Addressing immediate needs by providing assistance, often through nonprofits, schools, and public agencies.

• Completing an in-person or remote/virtual volunteer project (paid or unpaid) with a nonprofit, school, or public agency.
• Participating in a service activity coordinated by CCEL. Stay tuned to CCEL’s CampusGroups page for upcoming dates.
• Time spent volunteering through a student organization or CWRU sponsored program that has a direct benefit on a nonprofit, school, or public agency.
• Course-related required service-learning or clinical hours with a nonprofit, school, or public agency.
• Within reason, local transportation time to get to and from your service site.

Supporting an idea or cause through public and private communications and collecting evidence to support one’s position. Raising public awareness of civic causes and issues.

• Time spent planning, prepping for, publicizing, and carrying out an educational event about a community/civic cause to raise awareness.
• Participating in a task force, advisory group, or student organization that promotes making CWRU or other local communities in which you live more welcoming and equitable.
• Participating in an advocacy event that increases your understanding of and engagement in civic causes and issues.
• Time spent meeting with and/or outreaching to stakeholders to talk with them about a civic cause of concern to you to raise awareness and build a coalition.
• Writing and submitting letters to the editor or op-eds about a civic issue of concern to you.
• Calling, writing, emailing, or meeting with your elected official or other decision makers concerning a civic cause you care about.
• Signing and/or promoting a petition for a civic cause.
• Participating in a protest/demonstration about a civic cause.

Donating money to increase the well-being of humankind, advance another social good, or support nonprofit or community organizations.

• Time spent personally donating or raising funds for a cause you care about that benefits a nonprofit, school, or community organization.
• Promoting a fundraiser for a nonprofit, school, or community organization on social media.
• Time spent participating in a fundraising event for a nonprofit, school, or community organization.
• Time spent calling/writing family to solicit donations for a nonprofit, school, or community organization.
• Organizing, promoting, and/or soliciting donations for a supply drive.
• Preparing and dropping off personal donations for a supply drive.

Mobilizing others to participate in and influence public policy through formal political channels – and participating yourself.

• Serving as a poll worker.
• Organizing get-out-the-vote activities.
• Registering others to vote. *While time spent registering yourself to vote and voting is not eligible to be counted towards civic engagement hours, CCEL is happy to support students with election and voter resources to help you engage in this important way.
• Collecting signatures to get a candidate or issue on the ballot, campaigning on behalf of a candidate or issue.
• Time spent planning, prepping for, publicizing, and carrying out a political education event.
• Internships or volunteering in an elected official’s office.

 *While holding an elected position in a CWRU student organization is a valuable leadership opportunity, “political engagement” in Civic Engagement Scholars refers to off-campus, community positions and elections.

Strengthening the capacity of local residents and associations to work together by supporting opportunities for interpersonal connection. Bringing people together to act collectively in their shared interest or toward a common goal.

• Join CCEL for CWRUinCLE excursions to explore and better understand Cleveland neighborhoods and assets and meet with community changemakers. Stay tuned to CCEL’s CampusGroups page for upcoming dates.
• Time spent serving on non-CWRU affiliated nonprofit governing, Young Professional, or advisory council boards.
• Participating in block club events or other meetups of community-based civic groups.
• Engaging in student-local resident discussion meetings and/or gatherings.
• Actively engaging in dialogues that help you build community with others to make your campus or Cleveland community a more inclusive and equitable place.