Community Service Opportunities for Students
The University encourages and supports community service. Through organizations such as the Stevenson Student United Way, students can serve the community in many ways. The University supports students who aim to develop an awareness of social issues and have a desire to contribute to their solution rather than their perpetuation. Many of the mentioned clubs and organizations include service as an integral part of their mission and offer numerous service opportunities for the community.
Formal service-learning opportunities have been developed within the curriculum of the University and are incorporated into classes that are labeled service-learning or one-credit options. These service-learning opportunities allow students to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in an authentic way to meet genuine community needs. These classes integrate meaningful service with academic instruction and reflection while providing students with the resources to be civically, socially, and culturally engaged.
Mustangs Make a Difference Day (MMDD) is a campus-wide day of service designed to carry on the tradition of "Building Community Day" without the need for students to travel off-campus. This "Day to Serve" is a way for students, faculty, and staff to make a positive difference while furthering their commitment to the University value of "promoting a sense of community". MMDD has run successfully since fall 2015 with over 300 students participating annually. In the past, various classes, clubs, organizations, and honor societies have hosted stations that provide service activities to meet the various needs of community partners in the Baltimore region and beyond. Stevenson's MMDD has been one of the more than 700 events listed throughout Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, DC on the governor's "Day to Serve" website. This initiative is meant to "unite people of all faiths, races, cultures, and backgrounds with the shared goal of helping those in need and communities where we live". (www.daytoserve.org)