The annual report offers a look at the various ways that Elon students participate in service work each year and their opinions about service.
Those are just a few of the details from Elon’s annual “snapshot of service” that offers a look at the broad range of opportunities Elon students participate in as part of the university’s focus on making service a part of the Elon experience.
Of those thousands of students participating in service last year, 1,355 completed more than 20 hours of service for a total of 89,880 total hours of service during the academic year.
“The important message at Elon University is it is not what we do that makes us unique — it is how we do our work,” said Mary Morrison, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement. “By using the principles of good practice in service-learning and community engagement, faculty, staff, and community partners create a deeper and more robust learning experience for students engaged in the community.”
Along with working with a variety of local, state, national and international organizations, Elon students collected 10,561 pounds of food during Campus Kitchen food drives and packed 34,500 meals during the annual Rise Against Hunger Event.
One of the hallmarks of an Elon education is the ability to participate in service-learning courses, with Elon offering 47 such courses last year that enrolled 687 students. Elon saw 106 of its students participate in Alternative Break programs that offer the ability to go out in service during breaks during the academic year.
Continuing its strong presence in downtown Burlington, Elon saw 2,573 users of its Downtown Center for Community Engagement, which celebrated five years of operation last year. The center, located at 217 E. Davis St., is a 1,700-square-foot building available for university and community use.