We realize students lead busy lives so we've developed a spectrum of opportunities that range in time commitment, funding, credit or non-credit, and from volunteerism all the way to public work projects.  We have opportunities for you to work in the community for one day, one week, one quarter, one year, or your entire academic career.  Read each program description to find out if you can receive course credit, stipends or scholarship for your work in the community.  Each of our student programs is based on a community organizing model and uses the community organizing handbook* throughout the process.

Public Work

Puksta Scholars (four years): Incoming first years can apply upon acceptance to the University of Denver.  Scholars receive $6,000 annual scholarship and over four years develop civic skills and complete a major public work project with a community partner.

Service Learning and Community-based Learning

Public Achievement (one year): Use your financial aid work study award to work with this youth engagement initiative that seeks to draw on the talents and desires of young people to build a better community, engage them to be problem-solvers in their schools, and connect to the classroom. Other school-based civic engagement opportunities.

Service-Learning Associates (one year): Use your financial aid work study award to learn how to develop service-learning courses, assist faculty with course development and lead student reflections on service experiences.

Service Learning courses (one quarter): Offered within a variety of academic disciplines, service learning is active learning that links traditional academics with community service in order to deepen and expand classroom learning through thoughtful, collaborative engagement with community organizations, government agencies, educational institutions and the people they serve.

Volunteer

DU Something: Volunteer (one day to one year): Search online to find the right volunteer opportunity for you in the Denver metro area. This online system is open to all DU students, faculty and staff, and provides the opportunity to sign up immediately to volunteer in the Denver community. You may log back in after volunteering to record your hours and find new opportunities.

Campus Compact AmeriCorps (one or two years): Earn $1,175-$2,775 in education awards for completing 300, 450, 675 or 900 hours of service during the academic year.

Community Work Study (one year): Earn your financial aid work study dollars by serving in  the community at a non-profit organization or with a city initiative.

Post-Graduate Opportunities

If you are interested in post-graduate service opportunities, please read our "Next Step: Serve" information sheet and then contact the Career Center for advising at 303.871.2150 or career@du.edu.

*The community organizing handbook is provided as an online resource.  If you would like to print or distribute this handbook, please contact us at 303.871.3706 or ccesl@du.edu.