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Civic Engagement

The Office of Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement quad photo

Engaging students in the classroom, on campus, and in the community.

 

Address community issues, make a difference, and build applied skills through service.

The Office of Civic Engagement in the John W. Schmidt Center for Student Success aims to connect Troy University students to applied learning opportunities where students can develop skills in leadership, project management, and civic action while making a difference in our local community. Furthermore students can gain a minor in Civic Engagement through their work with us. Our goal is to facilitate quality civic learning experiences that engage TROY students, faculty, and staff with community needs that enhance the academic experience. If you are interested, you can learn more through our Facebook and Instagram pages where we post upcoming events and more information. 

 

Important Days

Tuesday: Gardening

Wednesday: Backpacks for Kids

Thursday: Campus Kitchens: Meal Prep

Friday: Campus Kitchens: Delivery

 

We are open from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday

Furthermore, occasionally activities will be scheduled after hours or on weekends please keep an eye out for those times on the schedule

 

packing food from dining hall

 

In the Classroom 

We believe civic engagement should be an integral part of every student's college experience. In the classroom is where students acquire the knowledge and skills to best practice and serve in their communities. The Office of Civic Engagement offers First Year Learning Communities for incoming freshman seeking to connect with fellow students through service. In addition to our Minor in Civic and Community Engagement and interdisciplinary courses, we partner with a variety of instructors and degree programs to provide co-curricular academic engagement opportunities for students. If you are interested, you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram

Minor in Civic and Community Engagement

This interdisciplinary minor offered through the Office of Civic Engagement is designed to build capacity in personal and organizational action, management and guidance in addressing public and societal problems. Through study and application, students build real world skills and knowledge for effective and ethical public service. The minor is designed to complement a variety of majors and is intended for students seeking to address systemic social problems.  
Learning Objectives

Knowledge

  • Understand societal and public problems and formulate creative, realistic solutions to these problems
  • Identify stakeholders and strategies for engagement in addressing public problems
  • Understand theoretical concepts related to community capital, power, voice, and structural inequalities and learn to apply these concepts in practical ways to solve problems
  • Understand the importance of inquiry, informed action and effective policy in addressing social problems
  • Understand the importance of service, community engagement and informed citizenship to address systemic community issues
  • Tie their understanding of community engagement to their career and life plans

Skills

  • Demonstrate an ability to engage in respectful, civil dialogue with diverse viewpoints
  • Strengthen public leadership and advocacy skills
  • Work effectively as members of diverse teams to address community issues
  • Demonstrate an understanding of personal values, ethics and responsibility and their impact on personal , professional and civic decisions and actions
  • Demonstrate effective research skills to develop feasible solutions to public problems
  • Take action on their personal plan for lifelong community engagement and public leadership
Course Structure

Minor in Civic and Community Engagement - 18 hours

Once declaring the minor, students must submit a course plan for approval to the advisor in the Office of Civic Engagement in Eldridge Hall 122.

Required courses (9 hrs)

IDS 1101 - Global Challenges 

Fulfills general studies requirements in Area II or IV
Explore knowledge and skills of globally competent citizenship and public service to address global challenges faced in the 21st century with special emphasis on localized application. 

IDS 2201 - Applications in Civic Engagement

Fulfills general studies requirements in Area II or IV
An overview of strategies for civic enrichment that engage various forms of community capital to address defined civic issues.

IDS 4495 - Capstone Experience in Public Service and Civic Engagement
An internship based at a community agency, health care facility, school or government agency focused on application of student’s personal plan for community engagement and public leadership. (Hour requirements vary depending on term or semester enrolled.)

Selected courses (9 hrs)

After completion of IDS 2201, students must select an additional 9 hours from advisor-approved electives in content areas of focus. At least 6 hours must be 3000 or 4000 level courses.

Benefits of the Minor

Students completing the Minor in Public Service and Civic Engagement will build competencies in the following areas:

 

  • Identifying public issues and their causes
  • Formulating creative, realistic solutions to various civic issues
  • Public leadership and advocacy skills
  • Project management and teamwork skills
To Declare the C&CE Minor

Complete this form: Request for Official Evaluation/Major Change or visit the records office in Room 135, Adams Administration Building.

 

In addition, email the Office of Civic Engagement.

 

For more information contact:

 

Lauren Cochran | Office of Civic Engagement
122 Eldridge Hall |  (334) 808-6349 |  laurencochran@troy.edu

Designed to Complement Peace Corps Prep Certificate

Pair the Civic and Community Engagement Minor with Troy University's Peace Corps Prep Certificate. 

While not required to be taken together, these course requirements align with one another to provide students with additional hands-on experiences and professional development support through four core competencies:

 

1.    Sector-specific skills
2.    Foreign language proficiency
3.    Intercultural competence
4.    Professional savvy and leadership

 

Learn more about the Peace Corps Prep Certificate under Academic Programs here. 

Learning Communities

First Year Learning Communities (LCs) are small groups of students sharing academic interests who enroll together in common courses their first semester at TROY. Learning Communities are a great way to meet other students, while being connected to faculty and staff on campus. Troy University offers six different learning communities to suit a wide variety of student interests and academic needs. Who can Participate    
How LCs WorK

Students who sign up to join a learning community take three general studies courses together centered on a particular topic of academic or career interest. LCs allow opportunities for students to network with others and build relationships with students who are pursuing similar career paths. These common classes include required courses in the general studies curriculum, with specialized content toward students' degree programs.

Through the courses, students engage in applied learning and service through co-curricular activities to enhance the integration of knowledge, skill development, and student success.

Who can Participate

To be eligible, a student must be an incoming first-year student planning to be enrolled full-time on the Troy campus for the current academic year. Additionally, students must fit criteria specific to the learning communities they select.

There are seven LCs, each capped at 24 students, so space is limited.

Communications

Business: allows students to explore majors and careers in the world of business through academic engagement, networking and career preparation

 

Communications: designed for students planning to enter career fields in journalism and communication

 

Creative Habit: designed exclusively for Dance and Theatre majors focused on the performance and production of both disciplines

 

Health Sciences: prepares students for professional career options in health sciences around engaged learning

 

Public Service: designed to build capacity and leadership skills to address community issues effectively

 

Youth Development: designed for students focused on making a difference in the lives of youth and children 

students working in food bank

 

In the Community

How to connect with Troy University volunteers

  1. Contact the Office of Civic Engagement to inform us of your volunteer needs.
  2. Attend Volunteer Fairs held at the beginning of each semester to inform students about your volunteer needs.
  3. Host a service project during one of our monthly Service Days. These events are designed to get students exposed to your organization and help you meet direct, tangible needs.
  4.  Follow the Office of Civic Engagement on social media to receive information about events, and access our semester calendars. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram.
  5.  

  6. If you would like to sign up as a volunteer then you can click here.

     

    Below are the organizations who help us out and allow us to help out the community as much as we do.

  7. How to connect with Troy University volunteers

    1. Contact the Office of Civic Engagement to inform us of your volunteer needs.
    2. Attend Volunteer Fairs held at the beginning of each semester to inform students about your volunteer needs.
    3. Host a service project during one of our monthly Service Days. These events are designed to get students exposed to your organization and help you meet direct, tangible needs.
    4.  Follow the Office of Civic Engagement on social media to receive information about events, and access our semester calendars. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram.
    student reading a book to class
  8.  
    • Troy Elementary School
    • Charles Henderson Middle School 
    • C2C 
    • Troy City Schools 
    • Troy Headstart 
    • Pike County Boys and Girls Club 
    • Troy Common Ground 
    • Troy OCAP 
    • Salvation Army 
    • Troy Senior Nutrition Center 
    • Troy Public Library 
    • Pike County Extension Master Gardeners 
    • Feeding the Gulf Coast (SNAP Outreach) 
    • Publix 
    • PACE  
    • DHR 
    • David Mathews Center for Civic Life 
    • Wiregrass RC&D 
    • Alabama Campus Coalition for Basic Needs (ACCBN) 
    • Truist Foundation 
    • American Heart Association 
    • SODEXO Stop Hunger Foundation 
    • Hunger Free America 
    • Americorps VISTA 
    • Troy University students 
    • JWS Center for Student Success & all departments  
    • International Programs 
    • Trojan Dining (SODEXO) 
    • Office of Sponsored Programs 
    • Office of Student Involvement 
    • Journalism (Public Relations) 
    • Social Science 
    • Education (Dr. Dadd) 
    • Leadership 
    • Nursing 
    • Human Services  
    • International Arts Center (IAC) 
    • Troy University Library 
    • F/S Basic Needs Coalition 
    • University Police 
    • Facilities/Event Mgmt. 
    • Student Services 
  10. Can castle contest
  11.  

On Campus

Through community partnerships and inter-disciplinary collaboration, students engage in a wide variety of experiences including film screenings, simulations or serious games, as well as student dialogue around contemporary issues that enhance democratic participation and encourage active citizenship.

 

In addition, students participate in service initiatives to raise awareness and address community needs. One of the core initiatives of the Office of Civic Engagement is addressing a national issue that impacts our local citizens. One in four Pike County residents are food insecure. The Campus Kitchen at Troy University is a student-powered food recovery network that redirects excess food from Trojan Dining and local partners to youth and senior-serving agencies in our community. We also have an event that lets students simulate what its like to be impoverished. For more information and updates on any events and initiatives we host please follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Main Title

 
Poverty and Hunger Outreach Initiative

Troy University is located in Pike County, Alabama. In recent years, one fourth of county residents and more than one third of children in the county live below the poverty line. Help address local needs related to poverty and hunger through these programs:

  • The Campus Kitchens Project – captures and reclaims unused, excess food from the campus dining hall and directs meals to those in need in our local community. For more information, find The Campus Kitchen at Troy University on Facebook.
  • Backpack for Kids – coordinated in conjunction with Troy University’s Freshman Forum, each week students prepare backpacks filled with supplemental food for local children in need.
  • Spring Food Drive & Can Castle Contest – each Spring the university mobilizes to address local hunger through this food drive which annually collects over 5,000 lbs of food.
  • Poverty Simulation-We will have a chance for students who are interested to simulate what it’s like to live in poverty, this is an event that happens every semester, more information and dates will be on our Facebook and Instagram.

Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram for info, schedule and volunteer needs for Backpack for Kids, the Poverty Simulation, and the Spring Food Drive.

Sustainability Initiatives

The Office of Civic Engagement promotes environmental stewardship on campus and in the community through a variety of programs. Join us to help make TROY more sustainable through these initiatives:

  • Waste Index – annual student lead data collection on waste and recycling practices on campus.
  • Community Garden Project – student-run garden project that generates fresh fruits and vegetables for local children and seniors. Get details on garden progress and volunteer needs on Facebook.
  • Recycling Initiatives - student-assisted campus and community efforts to promote recycling and waste reduction including the City of Troy’s Annual Recycling Roundup and outreach to schools.
Healthy Futures Outreach Initiatives

Help promote the health and wellbeing of children and youth through the following programs:

  • Nutrition and wellness programs – monthly outreach efforts to area youth serving organizations aimed at promoting healthy nutrition and life choices.
  • Reading Initiative – monthly outreach program into local schools to promote literacy and academic achievement.
Community Action and Outreach Initiatives

Learn about and connect to local and global issues and ways you can make a difference through these student-led initiatives.

  • Serve Well Fairs – annual event held each Fall where students can connect to volunteer opportunities in Troy and Pike Co.
  • Service Days – help meet direct, local community needs through participating in our series of service projects held each Fall and Spring. See schedule for projects each service day on Facebook.
  • Talk of Troy – discussion series on contemporary issues that meets monthly.
  • Southern Circuit Film Series – connect with contemporary issues through on-campus film and discussion series.
  • Civic Lab - This is a mentoring program hosted in partnership with Charles Henderson Middle School, the program seeks to bring deliberative discussions to 7th and 8th grade classrooms to focus on the issues of race and bias in communities . over the course of the academic school year, 8-26 college students facilitate approximately 4 discussions with the middle school students. 
  • Civic Heroes Summer Camp - This is an interactive summer camp for students entering the 4th - 6th grade. during the 6 virtual meetings campers will spend time learning about citizenship education and participating in fun activities or "missions." summer staff train and serve as camp leaders for the program.

Join the fight against hunger.

Each year the Office of Civic Engagement teams up with Student Involvement to host its annual Can Castle Contest. The food drive brings in more than 5,000 supplemental food items that keep our Backpack for Kids program well stocked to serve local children for several months. We will have opportunities to join during our fall and spring semesters.

During the contest, student organizations are encouraged to participate by donating nonperishable food items and come together for a couple of hours to construct their best “castle” using their donations. Castles are critiqued by a judge’s panel and recognition is given to the organization who has the best castle design and the organization who donated the most items. For sororities and fraternities, Greek Week points are also up for grabs.

This fun and engaging activity provides an opportunity for students to be educated on the issue of food insecurity in Pike County and actively participate in addressing this need. Food donations from the Can Castle Contest support the Backpacks for Kids program, a partnership between Civic Engagement and Freshman Forum. Students volunteer weekly during the fall and spring semesters to pack bags supplemental food items that are delivered biweekly to youth in our community.

 

Interested in participating?

REGISTER FOR CAN CASTLE

 

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