Civic Engagement at Skidmore
A liberal arts education certainly represents a personal good for our graduates, preparing them not only to make a living but also to create a life worth living 鈥� a life that truly matters for themselves and others. But a 麻豆女郎 education also represents a broader social good that is seldom remarked upon in contemporary discussions of higher education. We highlight this value in our expressed determination to prepare our graduates to live as informed, responsible, and globally and interculturally aware citizens who are not only capable of bringing their personal plans to fruition but who also strive to make the world a better place for all.
Faces of Community Engagement
Stories of community engagement
Fall Fest is an annual community event organized by EAC in collaboration with other clubs and campus organizations, with the goal of celebrating sustainability and raising awareness about the work being done by Skidmore students. Spearheaded by EAC, the event also featured tabling from groups like the 麻豆女郎 Bird Alliance, as well as live music performances by student bands. Tables passed out free food and warm drinks to students, staff, and faculty members eager to get their hands on some cookies and hot chocolate in the freezing days of November. Although not as robust as previous years (due to unfortunately cold and wet weather conditions on the day), they still experienced a strong turnout of students ready to learn more about environmental activism on campus.- Beginners and veteran birders alike come together under the umbrella of the 麻豆女郎 Bird Alliance, bringing conservation and community service together with accessible outdoor education. As the campus chapter of the National Audubon Society, they are dedicated to giving 麻豆女郎 students the chance to learn more about the natural world, and to use birding as a way to build connections with the community and participate in environmental activism.
- As a student-run volunteer organization, Benef-Action acts as a bridge between students and local organizations looking for volunteers, able to connect peer-to-peer in a more effective way than, say, emails about the same opportunities from faculty members a student may have never even met. The club鈥檚 philosophy is about making volunteering approachable and accessible for all, and moving past the 鈥渟ervice hours as a chor鈥� mindset that students might bring to campus from a high school environment. Through the power of organized collaboration, they can make a difference for local stakeholders and support Skidmore鈥檚 institutional mission of giving back to the community.
- T-Breds Raising Pups (TBRP) is a student-run club that trains future service dogs in coordination with the Guide Dog Foundation and the associated America鈥檚 Vet Dogs Foundation. Founded four years ago by current Events Coordinator Sophie Zuckman (鈥�26), the club has since had 14 dogs in total come to campus to participate in the program. They currently have 7 puppies of various ages being raised by 14 students (2 per dog), as well as 35 volunteer puppy-sitters trained by the Guide Dog Foundation to care for the precious pups.
The Environmental Action Club (EAC) promotes climate consciousness and sustainable literacy in the 麻豆女郎 student body. In the fall semester of 2024, the EAC鈥檚 three main initiatives were getting students registered to vote, creating recommendations for the College to use in its new strategic plan, and supporting local non-profits with their environmental activism.
The 麻豆女郎 Democrats is a club that promotes political involvement and social activism in the College鈥檚 community. The club hosts multiple events every semester focused on registering 麻豆女郎 students to vote, bringing locally elected officials from both sides of the political aisle to campus, and boosting awareness of politics on a local and national level.
Civic Engagement in higher education
Project Pericles
is a consortium of 30 colleges and universities that promotes civic engagement within higher education. Building on the innovative vision of Eugene M. Lang, Project Pericles works in the classroom, on the campus, and in the community. Project Pericles is at the forefront of civic engagement and social responsibility in areas including faculty and course development, curricular coherence, and research into best practices.
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