Furman University
EN-5: Civic Engagement

Heller Service Corps https://www.furman.edu/heller-service-corps/

The Heller Service Corps cultivates a spirit of giving by providing diverse service opportunities that build relationships between the Furman and Greenville communities. We offer opportunities for students to volunteer both on and off-campus with our Community Partners. Above all, Heller Service Corps is dedicated to serving others through life-changing work. Students coined the phrase: “A hand up; never a handout.” Heller truly embodies that attitude. We are dedicated to a life of discovering passions and providing opportunities to learn. Heller channels our student body’s benevolence by bridging the gap between Furman’s campus and the Greenville community. We are here to foster relationships, cultivate a spirit of giving, and, ultimately, provide service both on and off campus.

The Riley Institute. https://www.furman.edu/riley/public-education/fostering-civic-leadership/  Riley Institute offers programs that support civic awareness and leadership among public school students in South Carolina.

• APEC Student Delegation: Each November since 2002, a small group of Furman students travels to one of the 21 member economies that are part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), where they represent the United States as youth delegates and journalists in the Voices of the Future program. They attend sessions at the prestigious APEC CEO Summit, featuring heads of state and their top business advisors.
• The Riley Institute Advance Team is a group of select students who are passionate about politics and public policy and who wish to engage in substantive peer-led discussions about critical issues facing our country. The Advance Team helps to promote political engagement on campus and in the greater Greenville area. Members of the Advance Team play a crucial role in staffing and executing various Riley Institute events throughout the year and, in the process, have special opportunities to interact with local, national, and international leaders.

The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship https://www.furman.edu/innovation-entrepreneurship/  The Hill Institute's campus programs offer a diverse range of experiences and opportunities that set the stage for future innovative and entrepreneurial success. These include:

• Mini Pitch Competition: Join us for our Mini Pitch Competition series, where departments, fellow Institutes, and student clubs from all corners of Furman's campus collaborate to unleash their innovative ideas and vie for the first place title and $500 towards their big idea.
• Paladin Pitch Competition: 

  This exciting event showcases the innovative ideas of four student finalists who will pitch their new venture ideas to a panel of judges and a diverse audience of students, faculty, alumni, and community leaders. We have seen a vast variety of ventures grace the competition stage, from sustainable musical reeds, AI focused data analytic platforms to custom jewelry, our student ventures have it all!

  Students compete to take home the $10,000 Johnny Flynn Paladin Pitch Award to support launching their entrepreneurial venture; second place will take home $2,000 while third receives $1,000. With a focus on creativity and entrepreneurship, the event helps fuel the translation of innovative ideas into action.

• Summer Business and Innovation Boot Camp: This application-based summer-long program equips students with the business fundamentals of innovation and entrepreneurship. The high-impact experience is designed for students who want to complement their degree with real world business and innovation experience while a variety of potential career paths.

Furman University Student Entrepreneurship Association (FUSEA) https://www.furman.edu/innovation-entrepreneurship/innovation-entrepreneurship/fusea-2/  This transformational 9-week experience will include mentoring from successful local entrepreneurs and business owners, coaching from experienced design thinkers, instruction from distinguished university faculty, and an investor community that’s engaged and committed to supporting aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners.

Fraternity and Sorority Life https://www.furman.edu/fraternity-sorority-life/  3 active fraternities and sororities with more than 780 members. Our fraternal community was founded on the principles of academic and engaged learning, leadership and member development, community service and impact, and life-long friendships. Membership provides multiple opportunities for learning and growth outside the classroom. Giving back is an important aspect of life at Furman and our fraternity and sorority students are no different. Each chapter has one or more designated philanthropies that their organization supports nation-wide, as well as a collection of local charities. Throughout the year, they donate hundreds of volunteer hours and raise thousands of dollars for these organizations. You can find students working on campus-wide service projects, like the Poinsett Project, Relay for Life, or the Special Olympics.

APO Service Fraternity https://apo.org/ APO at Furman https://thepaladin.news/12291/arts-campus-and-culture/alpha-phi-omega-an-alternative-greek-community/ 

Some programs track participation and membership with accuracy, others by estimation. 

Heller Service Corps membership: 

• 445 members (20%)
• 1,213 (54%) students participated either through membership or participating in an event last year.  

Riley Institute

• APEC Student Delegation: 5 members
• Advance Team: 22 members

Hill Institute

• Mini Pitch Competition
• Paladin Pitch Competition: 50 students 
• Summer Business and Innovation Boot Camp

FUSEA: 56 members 

Fraternity and Sorority participation:  757 (34%) of the student body. 

APO Service Fraternity: 37 members

Total: 2140

Rosters of all memberships and event participation were not available to remove duplicates.  Assuming some double counting, we conservatively estimate that between 50 and 70% of the student body participates in some form of civic engagement program. 

Participation in civic engagement through volunteering, serving on boards, donating of time and money are awarded points in Furman's Green Office Program.  

Community engagement is also considered in the tenure and promotion process. Regularly used evaluation criteria:  teaching effectiveness, professional activity, institutional service, devotion to duty, professional ethics, university citizenship, and, as appropriate, community service.

Our home weatherization program also provides opportunities for employees to volunteer on a low-income home weatherization project. 

Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities staff helped develop and draft the City of Greenville's first Sustainability Plan, adopted by City Council February 2023.  https://www.greenvillesc.gov/1879/Sustainability Strategies in the plan are specifically designed to work in alignment with the City's new land development code. 

The Riley Institute's research consultancy promotes evidence-informed practices and policies and supports entities that serve children and families across the state. It provides external research and evaluation services, serves as an evaluation partner, and helps organizations build strategic learning skills. The Riley Institute’s Center for Education Policy and Leadership supports and recognizes highly effective and innovative approaches to public education that drive better and more equitable outcomes for all the people of South Carolina and beyond. Our work touches five primary focus areas: project-based learning, personalized competency-based learning, public school Montessori, afterschool and summer learning, and civic education in public schools. In addition, the Institute’s research group undertakes in-depth research and evaluation to promote evidence-supported education practices in public schools. The Riley Institute believes all children deserve to have caring, safe, and enriching environments in which to learn and grow. Through research, program evaluation, and strategic learning opportunities, we serve organizations that support and strengthen the well-being of children and families. Our research identifies effective programs and practices for improving child well-being and family stability. Local leaders can use the results of our research to implement, adapt, and scale proven programs. https://www.furman.edu/riley/research-evaluation/research-area/supporting-children-and-families/ 

• Companies are increasingly seeking access to renewable energy.
• Businesses commonly referenced South Carolina’s policy and regulatory framework as a challenge in those efforts.
• The availability of affordable Renewable Energy Certificates and the comparatively low cost of electricity in the state may undermine South Carolina-based investments or overall demand for renewables.

These are listed as policy recommendations: 

• Deregulate the energy market 
• revise net metering
• provide new and expanded incentives
• provide support for smaller businesses
• support the electric utilities to achieve a carbon-free grid by 2050