Community Service and Leadership Development Office
Your role in your community is the sum of your experiences. You are a student, friend, family member and citizen. Each day you are responsible in small ways to many people, and each day many people are responsible to you. Like it or not, each one of us is a leader in some way and for some one.
We can help you focus your goals and your interests through community service and volunteer projects so you'll get more out of your effort than a grade or a paycheck. In the end you'll be more likely to get a better grade and a better paycheck.
Stop by our office in the Campus Center, near the Post Office Lobby, to learn more about how you can help us.
Service Opportunities: Engage in the Local Community
Capital University believes strongly in engaging with the local community through community service and social issue advocacy projects. Student organizations like Circle K and Capateers regularly do service projects in the local area, plus the CSLD Office offers several programs and specialized opportunities for community service and service-learning, including:
Service Retreat. Students interested in getting involved in service organizations and new leadership experiences are encouraged to join faculty and staff in the fall for an off-campus retreat to connect, engage in community service together, and plan for a great year of service at Capital!
Service Fairs. The CSLD Office offers both a Fall and a Spring Service Fair, as well as a Post-Graduate Service Year Experience Fair in November. Come meet with local nonprofit agencies and secure a volunteer opportunity or an internship.
Saturday Service Series. The CSLD Office will provide transportation once a month on a Saturday to a local service site. This is a great chance to provide needed help to the Columbus community! If you wish, get the chance to team lead a project. We have worked with sites such as AIDS Task Force, Franklin County Dog Shelter, St. Vincent Family Centers, Mid-Ohio Food Bank, and Sunrise Assisted Living.
Homelessness Awareness Week/Make a Difference Day Picnic. A week of activities designed to raise awareness of and promote involvement with issues of homelessness, especially in the local community. Capital provides students opportunities to participate in this national event each October, culminating with the Columbus-area picnic for the homeless.
St. Vincent’s Coat Drive/Tree Lighting Ceremony. The annual Capital University coat drive, culminating with the Tree Lighting Ceremony in November, gives students, staff, and faculty an opportunity to donate new or gently used coats for the less fortunate in the Columbus area. Every coat counts!
World AIDS Day. This event coincides with the national date in December and may include various AIDS awareness activities such as free HIV testing, speakers, movies and discussions, and a candlelight vigil.
MLK Day Service Project. Each year, CSLD and the Office of Multicultural Affairs collaborate to celebrate Martin Luther King Day in January.
Hunger Awareness Week. A week of activities designed to raise awareness of and promote involvement with issues of hunger, especially in our local Columbus community.
Into the Streets. Students and staff connect with community residents and local nonprofits annually on a Saturday in April for a variety of service projects, both morning and afternoon.
Alternative Spring Break Trips. Journey to a new community during spring break trips to serve others in need, learn about social injustice, and grow as active citizens.
Earth Day. Earth Day is celebrated with official activities through the CSLD Office in April. Activities include an environmental service project, and may also include a recyclable art competition and speakers.
Capital University Presidential Service-Learning Scholars (CAPSLS) Program. This program involves student and faculty scholars in developing service-learning as part of the curriculum at Capital University. For more information about becoming a part of CAPSLS, please contact Angela Gray at agray2@capital.edu.
Campus Blood Drives. Sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega, this is an on-campus opportunity for students to help others by donating blood.
Leadership Opportunities
Develop as a Leader
College gives you the opportunity to learn in the classroom as well as outside the classroom. Through leadership development opportunities, students may learn more about your personal leadership style and how you work with others. Employers of today are looking for the special skill sets developed through opportunities such as the leadership programs the CSLD Office offers:
Leadership Workshop Series. These regular ongoing sessions provide students with tools and resources to develop as a leader. Join us for these interactive workshops and learn more about yourself!
Leadership Summit. The Spring Leadership Summit brings together Capital students, faculty, and staff in collaboration to create goals, grow, and help each other achieve full potential as leaders with integrity. Become a part of the day and challenge yourself!
Distinguished Senior Leader Awards. These annual awards, co-presented in May with the Alumni Relations Office, honor the achievements of Capital’s graduating senior leaders.