The Liberal Studies mission emphasizes students, faculty, and administrators working collaboratively to develop “global leaders that will become agents of change in a changing world.” Opportunities for civic engagement, service, and leadership are thus integral to the mission and goals of LS and New York University. Below are a selection of options for making a difference as an LS student.
Service & Civic Engagement
Day of Service
During Orientation, new LS students are invited to volunteer for one of several service projects sponsored on campus and throughout NYC. Each service project emphasizes a particular community or social justice issue, which allows students and other volunteers to contribute toward issues that resonate with them.
LS Alternative Breaks
The alternative break program provides students with the opportunity to learn about political and social community dynamics while becoming a catalyst for collaborative change. Through both learning and practice, students explore the integration of service, education and reflection to enact change. A cohort of LS students will visit either an international or domestic location each spring semester to undertake a project relevant for that community. NYU Alternative Breaks travel during winter break or spring break.
LS Service Ambassadors
Students that have demonstrated commitment to service and civic engagement. Service Ambassadors participate in a year long program partnering with organizations across New York City to promote awareness of social issues and service opportunities.
Update posted May 2020: Due to COVID-19, our Social Impact Grant and Volunteer Grant applications are currently closed. At the moment, we cannot approve grants for non-essential activities. Please check back in the coming months for updates.
LS Volunteer Grants
Students who volunteer on an ongoing basis with NYC community organizations are eligible to apply for small grants through Liberal Studies. These grants help offset some of the costs associated with volunteerism, such as transportation and meals. Applicants must be matriculated LS students. Awards range from $100 to $250.
Social Impact Grants
Social Impact Grants fund student initiatives that involve making a difference in communities and enriching the quality of life. These grants model the idea that contributing back to a particular community is both an important educational experience and critical preparation for the practice of global citizenship. Applicants must be matriculated Liberal Studies students in at least the second semester of their first year. Awards range from $500 to $2,000.
Alternative Breaks
Provides students the opportunity to participate in a year-long experience exploring social, political, and cultural dynamics of a particular community. Through learning and practice, students explore the theory of integrating service, education, and reflection to create meaningful change in their communities.
NYU Green Grants
NYU Green Grants are awarded to improve the university’s environmental performance, foster environmental literacy and community engagement, advance applied research and design, and demonstrate the viability of best practices and technologies for sustainability.
NYU Social Impact Week
Social Impact Week is a collaboration between student groups, external organizations, alumni, and faculty with the goal of inspiring positive change in the NYU community. The lectures, discussion panels, volunteering and other programming offered during the week intend to create tangible and sustainable impact.
Project Outreach
A week-long program prior to NYU’s Welcome Week that pairs service-minded incoming first year and transfer students with peer mentors to learn about and perform service throughout New York City.
Service and Volunteer Fairs
At the beginning of each semester, NYU Service and the Center for Student Activities, Leadership and Service (CSALS) host a campus-wide fair to connect students with local non-profit and community-based organizations offering internships and/or volunteer opportunities.
America Reads & America Counts
Programs that encourage youth reading and mathematics skills
Community Service Project Grants
Funding for service projects or unpaid internships
Generation Citizen
GC volunteers, called Democracy Coaches, partner with teachers to teach an innovative action-based civics curriculum. Democracy Coaches help students identify a community issue that matters to them, create an action plan to address the issue, then take real-world action.
Jumpstart
Early childhood programs that engage college student volunteers
New York Cares
Various volunteer programs that serve New Yorkers
NYC Service Initiative
Volunteer opportunities that address New York’s greatest needs
Peace Corps
Service opportunity for immersion in a community abroad
Public Service Internships
Internships with city agencies for work-study students
Civic engagement: Community service, public service and/or volunteerism by individuals and groups that “identify and address community needs and public concerns.”
—NYU Office of Community Engagement
Contact ls.service@nyu.edu with questions about service opportunities.
Frank Huang
LS/Intl. Relations & MCC ’22
LS Alt. Breaks-Guatemala, 2018-19
What is most memorable about this service experience? I was exhausted after work every day and the moments I laid down on the bed were the moments I fell asleep. Our hard work paid off and it was great to see the house growing higher and higher. After we finished building the house and hosting the ceremony, everyone left to a car and I was the last one packing my stuff. Before I left the site, the house owner came out again and gave me a hug: "Thank you Frank". That was definitely the most memorable moment of the whole trip and I cried.
What did you learn from this service experience? Teamwork makes dream work. Before the trip, I had doubt about if we would be able to build two houses in a week. However, it turns out we did a fine job. Teammates and Guatemalan workers cooperated and encouraged with each other. We worked hard when building and we had fun when we were off (we danced, sang and played soccer). I realized there are so many people on the world having the same condition and they need to be helped.
Advice for students interested in applying for Alternative Breaks... You have to be passionate about the work and be ready to face potential challenges. The whole LS Alternative Break is not just about the one week in Guatemala, but also the preparation and fundraising part throughout the year.
Links
- Leadership Leadership at Liberal Studies and beyond
- NYU Local and Global Service Find more opportunities to volunteer with NYU
- NYU Community Engagement Impact the community surrounding NYU
- NYU Leadership Initiative Rethink leadership as collective work with a shared vision