Wake Forest University
EN-12: Community Service

In the past, community engagement has not been noted on student transcripts. There are, however, several faculty members who have expressed an interest in this occurring. Over the last year, tremendous work has been completed to identify service-learning courses on student transcripts by the Registrar’s Office. An advisory committer, the Academic and Community Engagement (ACE) Advisory committee will begin convening this summer to set criteria and make a formal recommendation to faculty senate regarding adding an ACE designation to coursework. In addition to the Religion and Public Engagement (RPE) concentration that has been successfully implemented in the Department of Religious Studies, the conversation concerning a civic engagement certificate program is ongoing.

Over two-thirds of Wake Forest undergraduate and graduate/professional students engage in service each year through service-learning courses, domestic and international service trips, long-term and short-term service projects and initiatives, the President’s Honor Roll and other opportunities facilitated by the Pro Humanitate Institute. For the past twelve years, the university has sponsored the Academic and Community Engagement (ACE) Fellows program for faculty members interested in incorporating service-learning into new or existing courses. The program provides workshops on course development, guidance and, stipends to implement a service learning course that enhances teaching and enriches learning. This initiative links our commitment to academic excellence and service to humanity. Wake Forest offers numerous internships for academic credit. These internships are administered through the Dean of the College for undergraduates and through each graduate school. Internship placements include: Counseling department placements with public schools; Divinity School placement with hospitals, faith based organizations and NGO’s; Education department placements in local K-12 public schools; Law School student placements in public interest law firms and offices of government. Through these internship programs Wake Forest places more than 300 students into collaborative work placements through summer immersion, individual study, and graduate course work each year. The Center for International Studies coordinates study abroad programs for the university, allowing faculty to integrate curricular activities into trips. . We encourage students to begin participating in community service activities during their first year at Wake Forest, and offer a pre-orientation program that allows students to learn about service opportunities in the Winston-Salem area. We offer 12 spring alternative break programs in locations throughout the country, a fall break service experience, and 4 international service experiences yearly. Wake Forest students also serve the community through their philanthropic efforts for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Fund. The Piccolo Cancer Drive has engaged thousands of students, faculty, and staff annually, raising $1.5 million dollars to support the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's Cancer Center since its inception. Many of our community service and philanthropy programs are campus traditions that define who we are and what we believe. Wake Forest also sponsors a Campus Kitchen. Established in 1999 by two undergraduate students, Campus Kitchen is a food security program that uses cooked, but never served, food from the campus dining hall to make healthy and nutritious meals for those suffering from food poverty in our community. Each year over 5,000 meals are delivered, over 500 volunteers give more than 2,400 hours of their time, and help save more than 5,400 pounds of food. The national Campus Kitchens program, which now includes twenty-five colleges and universities, was founded by two Wake Forest alumnae. As evidenced above, community engagement is a key part of the leadership experience of Wake Forest students. It is quite common for student organizations whose primary focus is not community engagement to participate in service projects in collaboration with other student organizations. For example Greek organizations, campus ministry groups, academic and social clubs have organized efforts to participate in Campus Kitchen, volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, host canned food drives, and volunteer at local nonprofit agencies.