Helping your community is at the heart of being an OSU student. Whether you're looking to volunteer, log hours for SHINE, or participate in co-curricular learning—we have options to help you find your cause. 

Service Learning and Volunteer Opportunities

• Students Organizing Service

  Each semester one local nonprofit will be selected. The Student Government Association and the Office of Student Life have joined efforts to sponsor a coordinated community service project at least once a month for that organization. These events are one Saturday or Sunday a month for approximately four hours. Volunteering in this program is a great way to get to know students who have a heart for making a difference in the community and finding your volunteering niche!

   

  Past volunteering activities include Epworth Villa Retirement Community, Pumpkinville at the Myriad Botanical Gardens, and the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank. These community hours can be counted toward the SHINE program goal of 100 hours of community service beginning at the start of your college experience until graduation. All community service hours should be documented by completing the OSU-OKC Volunteer Form below. If you are interested in getting involved in SOS through our SGA, please contact the Office of Student Life at okc.studentlife@okstate.edu.

• Current Volunteer Partners

  OSU-OKC is proud to partner with the following programs in the OKC Metro to better serve our community.

  • Feed The Children
    • ​Contact: Hailey Montgomery | hailey.montgomery@feedthechildren.org | 405.945.4070
    • Location: 29 N. Mcormick Ave., Oklahoma City
       
  • Scissortail Park
    • ​Contact: Jude Dunford | jdunford@scissortailpark.org | 405.493.8301
    • Location: 300 SW 7th, Oklahoma City 
       
  • Boys & Girls Club of OKC
    • Open during the school year from 2:30PM - 7:00PM
    • Services elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as their gym. Opportunities include: 
      • ​Academic tutoring/homework assistance
      • Playing games with the kids (they love Kahoot!)
      • Leadership groups (variety)
      • Volunteer application can be downloaded here and sent to Mercedes Miller, Volunteer Director, at: mmiller@bgcokc.org
         
  • SGA Senate
    • ​You will serve as a department or division liaison to our Student Government Association.
    • Flexible hours - must be committed to serve as representative for at least one full year  
      • ​Requirements
        • ​At least 3.5 GPA (approved by advisor)
        • Has to be interviewed in person or online by SGA Executive Members
        • Has to attend at least two campus events per semester
        • Senate must meet with SGA members at least once or twice a month
        • Recommended by faculty or department/division head
      • Duties
        • A team of six to ten members will work together to assist student clubs in the promotion of events and service projects
        • Senators will be assigned to at least one club upon acceptance
        • Senate members are invited to attend Oklahoma Student Government Congress in the Fall and Spring semester - a maximum of four can attend who wish to present student legislation bills along with SGA executive members 
          • Members who plan on attending will be prepped on Robert's Rules and participate in a mock Congress for practice
    • Contact: Tyler Maddry, SGA President | okc.sga@okstate.edu 
    • Supervisor (signing off service hours): TerJuana Brooks | terjuana.brooks@okstate.edu | 405.945.6796

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• Individual Volunteer Activities and Projects

  We know that many of our students are community-minded and volunteer because they are passionate about a cause and recognize the importance of contributing to society by volunteering. Do you serve as a Sunday school teacher at your local church? Do you volunteer as a Big Brother or Big Sister? Do you take the time to mentor schoolchildren at your child’s school? All of these are examples of activities that can be included as hours counted toward the SHINE program goal of 100 hours of community service beginning at the start of your college experience until graduation.

   

  All community service hours should be documented by completing the OSU-OKC Volunteer Form below. If you are interested in reporting your individual community service volunteer experiences, please contact the Office of Student Life at okc.studentlife@okstate.edu.

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• Student Organizations

  Student clubs and organizations provide students a wealth of volunteer opportunities throughout the year by organizing community service events, participating in organized community events (such as the seasonal Litter Blitzes, mentor programs, etc.) or volunteering at nonprofit agencies. Each organization is encouraged to engage in community service throughout the year and chooses service projects as an organization. These community hours can be counted toward the SHINE program goal of 100 hours of community service beginning at the start of their college experience until graduation.

   

  All community service hours should be documented by filling out the electronic form below. Verification of service must be uploaded with form. 

 

Co-Curricular/Service Learning

Co-curricular learning is defined as any learning activities, programs, and experiences that reinforce our mission and values (Higher Learning Commission, 2020).  Service Learning and organized volunteering through the school, department, or in classes may be forms of co-curricular activities.

• What is the difference between Service Learning & Volunteering

  Volunteering focuses on the benefits to the service recipients. There are NO specific learning objectives tied to the experience.    

   

  Service learning is tied to specific learning objectives.  It enhances the academic curriculum of a course or program in which the participants are enrolled. Service learning is experiential and requires assessment by participants on their service experience and application to the specific learning objectives. Overall, the most important feature of service-learning is that both learning and service are emphasized. 

• Benefits of Service Learning to Students and Faculty

  • Enriches student learning of course material and brings books to life

  • Engages students in active learning that demonstrates the relevance and importance of academic work for their life experience and career choices

  • Increases awareness of current societal issues as they relate to academic areas of interest

  • Broadens perspectives of diversity issues and enhances critical thinking skills

  • Improves interpersonal skills that are increasingly viewed as important skills in achieving success in professional and personal environments

  • Develops civic responsibility through active community involvement

• Benefits to the Community

  • Provides substantial human resources to meet educational, human, safety and environmental needs of local communities

  • Allows the energy and enthusiasm of college students to contribute for meeting needs

  • Fosters an ethic of service and participation in students who will be tomorrow’s volunteers and civic leaders

  • Creates potential for additional partnerships with faculty and increased collaboration with the campus

  • Provides opportunities to be co-educators

• Contact
  okc.servicelearning@okstate.edu