Center for Service Leadership
Service is woven throughout the fabric of the Waynesburg community. The University has a long tradition of involving students in service to the surrounding community and beyond as a vital part of their educational experience. As part of Waynesburg University's mission to provide opportunities for lives of leadership and service, the Center for Service Leadership seeks to assist individuals and student groups with identifying meaningful service activities in order that students can pursue lives of purpose. The Center is not just about volunteerism; it's about moving individuals from volunteering to advocacy and becoming a servant of all.
This tradition of service is rooted in the University's long-standing Christian mission in Higher Education. The servant leader model we seek to follow is that of Jesus Christ who came not to be served, but to serve. This servant model is rooted in Jesus' command to His disciples, "Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15: 12-13).
Service Learning
Historically, in the "Parish Project," students were involved in the surrounding churches. Today, Waynesburg University students serve in churches, schools, community organizations and policy groups. Each of these opportunities provides the student with valuable experiences which he/she may both reflect upon and contribute to traditional curricular experiences.
In the fall of 1988, Waynesburg University began implementing the inaugural service-learning course as a component of the general education curriculum. The course consisted of a minimum 30 hour service requirement with personal reflections and analysis structured through journals and a final paper. In later years, the course was modified to permit students to enroll in service-learning for anywhere from 1-3 credit hours. The shift was made from a single administrator supervising the service-learning placement to a decentralized approach with a group of faculty mentors providing guidance, experience and facilitating learning sessions based upon the service experiences of students. These faculty mentors, from various academic disciplines, work as a group to plan and structure learning experiences which occur under their leadership throughout the semester the student is enrolled.
What kind of service are students involved in? Locally, students serve with over 40 agencies and programs that are designed to meet the needs of Greene County and the surrounding area. Outside of Waynesburg and Greene County, groups travel to Nashville, Jackson MS, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Southwest WV, Florida, New York City, Arizona, Indiana, Biloxi MS, Washington DC and Kentucky to work in soup kitchens, food banks, tutoring programs, assist with home repairs, assist with environmental restoration projects, medical clinics, minister to the homeless and individuals in need. Recent international mission service trips have included Australia, Austria, Guatemala, Haiti, Malawi, Nicaragua, Mexico, Jamaica, South Africa, Singapore, Argentina and Ireland to name a few. Waynesburg University students also travel into the city to participate in various urban intensive service experiences such as, "The Open Door," "East Liberty Saturday Celebration," and the "Pittsburgh Project." Service placement "matches" are made by staff at the Waynesburg University Center for Service Leadership which is located in the new Stover Campus Center. Students are placed in service sites according to their major field of study and/or areas of personal interest. Supportive services, orientation, training, and reflection classes are also provided by the Center's staff in order to assist students to gain the maximum benefit from their service experiences.
The Bonner Scholars Program
Waynesburg is proud to be one of only 27 "Bonner Scholar Schools" in the country, and only one of two in Pennsylvania. With support from the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, based in Princeton, NJ, this unique scholarship program offers selected students financial assistance to supplement the University's financial aid package in return for a commitment to service while enrolled at Waynesburg.
Bonner Scholars engage in community service and enrichment opportunities for an average of 10 hours per week during the school year in order to earn their scholarship benefits. With 60 students in the program, approximately 500-600 hours of service are contributed to the community each week.
Each year, 15 new Waynesburg University Bonner Scholars are chosen through an interview and selection process which includes; completion of a scholarship application with written essay questions, a personal interview with the selection committee, a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and placement in the top 40% of their high school class, as well as qualify financially. Newly selected Bonner Scholars arrive on the Waynesburg University campus in August, one week earlier than the general student body to participate in an orientation to the program and specialized training.
The Bonner Americorps Leadership Program
Created in 1993, AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in vital service to meet societal needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Through the Bonner Foundation, Waynesburg University has received AmeriCorps Education Awards annually. The Education Award requires students enrolled in the Program to complete 900-hours of community service within a two-year period of time. Upon completion of all requirements, students receive a loan reduction or tuition assistance.