New Plans for Student Community Service

Duke's Community Service Center (CSC) has long performed dual roles, advising student service groups and connecting students and staff with volunteer opportunities in Durham. Duke officials say these roles will now be separated to better align resources, staff and services.

CSC's community outreach efforts will now become part of Duke's Center for Civic Engagement (DCCE), "which will allow Duke students, staff and faculty to explore the full range of local, national and international volunteer opportunities all at once," said Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education. "Civic engagement is increasingly a hallmark of the Duke experience, and streamlining access to a variety of civic engagement initiatives will be a priority moving forward."

Federally funded tutoring programs, such as America Reads and America Counts, and individual requests for volunteers from Durham community nonprofits will now operate within DCCE.

Meanwhile, the 26 student-led service organizations, such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America at Duke and Duke Habitat, will stay within the Division of Student Affairs.

"We are simply marrying strengths with strengths," said Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs. "The Office of Student Activities and Facilities, which advises more than 300 student groups on campus, will now advise and support the student groups that were being managed within the CSC. Meanwhile, the DCCE will absorb CSC's volunteer outreach operations. Both of these moves improve service to students and create natural synergies for all involved."

Details of the Community Service Center reorganization are currently being finalized. All changes will be effective as of July 1.