All students have opportunities throughout the year to participate in University-sponsored civic and community engagement activities.
Stay Connected
Look out for our "Spotlight on Service" newsletter, which is sent out to all Behrend students with information about on-campus and off-campus service opportunities and how to get involved.
Visit the Civic and Community Engagement site on BehrendSync to find service opportunities sponsored by our office. And follow us on Instagram!
Annual Events
MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 16, 2023
Penn State Beaver (Transportation for Behrend students is provided)
Celebrate the legacy and service of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a Penn State commonwealth campus day of service. The event will be held on January 16, 2023, at Penn State Beaver. If you enjoy helping others, have a passion for community engagement, or are just looking for a new type of opportunity to experience with fellow Penn State students, don't hesitate to register while spots remain.
Behrend staff are attending and providing transportation to the event. It will also include breakfast, lunch, a speaker, and a t-shirt.
The registration deadline is December 30, 2022 (limited spaces available).
Email: [email protected]
Alternative Spring Break
March 4–10, 2023
Service Site: Ft. Myers, Florida
Service Focus: Disaster relief from Hurricane Ian
This week-long service trip offers participants (24 students and 4 trip advisers) a complete immersion into a community that may be very different from their own, with the specific goal of making a positive, lasting impact on that community. This experience is designed to engage students on multiple levels, including personal development, group and team dynamics, and public service. Through reflection and civil discourse, participants are challenged to grow as individuals and rethink previous assumptions about others and society as a whole.
Excellence in Leadership & Service Awards
April: TBD
Join us in this celebration of the outstanding achievements of Penn State Behrend's club and organizations and the individual leaders who contribute to our community.
Start with Service
Early August
Start with Service takes place during Welcome Week in August and is for both incoming and current students interested in getting involved in service-related opportunities.
- On-Campus Date: Friday, early August
This event takes place on campus and involves a variety of hands-on projects that focus on helping different populations in Erie. Each project is sponsored by one of Behrend's student-led service organizations. - Off-Campus Date: Saturday, early August
This event offers a variety of off-campus projects where you can meet new people, get to know the Erie community, and make an impact through volunteering.
Student Leadership & Service Fair
Early September
The Leadership and Service Fair promotes on-campus leadership, volunteer, and civic engagement opportunities to new and current students. In addition, the Fair allows college departments and programs, and local nonprofits a way to introduce themselves and their mission to Behrend students.
International Coastal Clean-up
Third Saturday of September
9:00 a.m.–noon
This annual volunteer event is part of a worldwide program to clean and protect our oceans and water sources. By participating in the International Coastal Cleanup, you can make a difference by joining millions of volunteers just like you, who love the environment and want to protect it. Transportation and supplies provided.
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
Mid-November
During this week of awareness, Civic Engagement collaborates with numerous clubs, organizations, and departments across campus to host activities, events, service projects, and drives that benefit the community and broaden our understanding of the issue surrounding the theme of hunger and homelessness on a local, national, and international scale. Not only do we seek to raise awareness and educate on the issues surrounding hunger and homelessness, but we take action!
Dinner for Six
TBD
Dinner for Six is an annual celebration of the Behrend community. This special Behrend tradition began years ago when many students stayed on campus during the Thanksgiving holiday. Faculty and staff invited these students into their homes to celebrate together. As our enrollment grew over the years, it became more challenging to accommodate everyone, and Dinner for Six's traditional Thanksgiving meal was born.