What is civic engagement?
Civic engagement occurs any time someone acts to better their community and encourages others to do it too. Authentic civic engagement is built on a shared understanding of community needs and a deep commitment to collaboration. Students at Iowa can get involved in their local, state and national community in a variety of ways, including volunteering and community service, service-learning courses, and participation in political organizations.
Why is civic engagement important?
Civic engagement can help you:
- Make a positive impact in your community
- Develop leadership and teamwork skills
- Build relationships with diverse groups of people
- Strengthen problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities
- Gain a deeper understanding of community issues
- Connect classroom learning to real-world challenges
- Explore personal values and civic responsibility
How do you prepare?
Before getting involved, consider:
- What causes or issues are important to you?
- What skills do you hope to develop?
- How much time can you commit?
- Do you want a one-time or ongoing opportunity?
- Would you prefer direct service, advocacy, leadership, or community education?
To get started:
- Explore civic engagement organizations on campus
- Review organization expectations and commitments
- Attend an event or information session
- Connect with organization leaders or volunteer coordinators
- Choose an opportunity that fits your interests, schedule, and goals
Who can help?
- Find opportunities that fit your interests
- Connect engagement experiences to your goals
- Explore meaningful ways to get involved on campus and in the community
- Guidance on finding volunteer and service opportunities
- Support in identifying causes and organizations that match your interests
- Assistance developing a plan for community involvement
Where can I find these opportunities?
Volunteering and Community Service
The University of Iowa has a variety of service-based organizations that can help you get involved with the community and give back. If you aren’t sure where to start, set up an appointment with a volunteering advisor who can help you find a good service opportunity for you.
Political Organization Participation
If you’re interested in political participation, the University of Iowa has a variety of opportunities. You can join an organization that aligns with a political party, one that focuses on a specific issue, or just one that is motivated to get people to the polls. See all the political student organizations by going to the organizations page Campus Labs and selecting ‘political’ in the categories dropdown menu.
Student Government
You can get involved in government and leadership opportunities on campus in many different ways, including advisory boards and student group executive boards. Undergraduate Student Government is a great way to make an impact on the campus community and to serve your fellow students.