Find Your Cause: How Civic Engagement Can Shape Your College Experience
Civic engagement is about participating in your community and taking action on social or civic issues you care about. College is an ideal time to do this because you are surrounded by opportunities to explore new interests, meet new people, and make a meaningful impact. But before you start saying yes to every opportunity that pops up, it helps to take a step back and think about the causes and issues that matter most to you.
Reflect on What Matters to You
Thinking about which morals matter most to you is an important step in civic engagement. Values like honesty, respect, fairness, and responsibility shape how you treat others and how you respond to issues in your community. When you take time to reflect on what you care about, it becomes easier to figure out which causes feel meaningful and how you want to get involved.
For example, if fairness is important to you, you might be interested in supporting causes that focus on equality or social justice. If helping others is something you care deeply about, volunteering or mentoring might feel like a natural way to get involved.
Understanding your core morals helps you take part in civic activities that feel genuine and true to who you are.
What You'll Gain from Civic Engagement
Participating in civic engagement can shape your college experience in many powerful ways. As you get involved, you’ll begin to see the impact it has on your connections, your skills, and your personal growth. Here are a few key ways it can impact your experience:
🤝 Build Connection & Belonging
Feel more connected to your campus, your community, and people who share your interests and values. Civic engagement helps you find your place and build relationships that make your experience more meaningful.
💡 Develop Real-World Skills
Step beyond the classroom and into hands-on experiences. Whether you’re leading a project, collaborating with others, or tackling real challenges, you’ll develop skills like communication, leadership, and problem-solving, all of which are skills that you can carry into any future path.
🌱 Grow with Purpose
Civic engagement helps you grow as a person. You’ll build confidence, deepen your understanding of real-world issues, and see how your actions can make a difference—creating a stronger sense of purpose over time.
How to Get Started
Once you figure out what values are important to you and gain a sense of what civic engagement can offer, the next step is finding opportunities that align with what matters most to you.
Volunteer with the Center for Civic Engagement
You’ll find plenty of activities that match your interests and fit your schedule, making it easier to get involved in ways that feel meaningful to you. Students can volunteer through programs coordinated by the Center for Civic Engagement, working with local nonprofits, schools, and community organizations throughout Chester while building leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.
One of the easiest ways to find these opportunities and more is through GivePulse, Widener’s community engagement platform, where you can browse service events and community projects, sign up, track your hours, and keep a record of your involvement—all in one place.
Student Organizations & Leadership Groups
Student organizations play a major role in civic engagement on Widener's campus. They can help you connect with causes that already have a strong community behind them, making it easier to turn your interests into action.
These organizations often focus on different forms of engagement, like:
Cultural, identity-based, and affinity groups that create welcoming spaces for dialogue, representation, and community connection. Examples include: Black Student Union (BSU), Latinos Unidos, Sexuality and Gender Alliance
Service and volunteer clubs that organize projects and partnerships with local organizations to support the surrounding community. Examples include: Alpha Phi Omega, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.,
Advocacy and issue-focused groups that raise awareness about social, environmental, or public health issues and encourage action. Examples include: Amnesty International, Active Minds, Widener Anti-Sexual Violence Education (WAVE)
Student government and leadership boards that represent student voices, work with campus administrators, and help shape decisions that impact campus life. Examples include: Student Government Association (SGA), Residence Hall Association,
You can also explore structured service leadership programs like the Bonner Leader Program, which connects you with ongoing community service, leadership development, and scholarship opportunities. If you're interested, you can submit an interest form to get connected and learn more.
No matter what group you decide to join, they all provide students opportunities to build leadership skills while supporting causes they care about.
Your Impact Starts Here
Civic engagement does not look the same for everyone, and that is what makes it so impactful. Whether you choose to volunteer, join a club, advocate for an issue, or simply learn more about your community, the best place to start is with what genuinely interests you. Every action, no matter how big or small it may seem, helps create positive change and strengthens the communities we are all a part of.
LaShanda A. Patton serves as the Director of Civic Engagement, overseeing the Center for Civic Engagement and scholar programs including Bonner Leaders, Maguire Foundation Scholars, and Pride Service Site Leaders. A veteran with a strong commitment to service, she works to expand campus–community partnerships and empower students to become civically engaged leaders.