Dear Colleagues:
I am delighted to invite undergraduate and graduate students in your college or unit to participate in the Fall 2020 We CU Community Engaged Scholars program. This program supports our mission to serve our community and expand high quality and interdisciplinary community engagement activities for students across our campus.
The fall scholars program follows an incredibly successful summer pilot empowering University of Illinois students to (remotely) respond to community needs and challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This summer, 232 scholars representing 12 colleges across campus were recognized for their program participation and service over the 10-week summer program. Collectively, these students worked with more than 30 organizations, logging 4,500 hours of community-based service.
“Volunteering with the Disability Resource Expo and the CU Trauma & Resiliency Initiative has shown me how community advocacy does not simply exist within the campus community, but in the Champaign-Urbana community as a whole. Even while I’m back home…remote volunteering with We CU has helped me feel connected to a community that I have grown to love and appreciate.” – Gabrielle, We CU volunteer
We CU honors students for their community-based work and provides them with training, connection to like-minded peers and support from We CU program leaders. Students completing 20 hours of service each semester will be honored at a spring awards ceremony, with distinct recognition given to those who complete 300 hours of service over the course of four years.
This opportunity will be particularly attractive to the following groups of students:
- Students enrolled in academic programs that have built-in service requirements: These service hours can count toward We CU scholar recognition.
- Students participating in service learning courses or groups: We CU matches projects from community organizations with service learning courses and groups. These service hours can count toward We CU scholar recognition.
- Students motivated to enrich their university experience, build their resume/CV, and make a positive impact in the community: We CU provides opportunities for students to view and sign up for open service opportunities. Students may also gain recognition for self-identified service projects.
This program strengthens our commitment to developing future leaders with deep understanding of their communities and commitment to making a positive impact. Please ensure your college, department or institute is represented in this program by sharing this information with appropriate faculty, staff and students in your unit. Please visit wecu.illinois.edu and refer to the Fall 2020 one-page program summary, including frequently asked questions.
Students may submit their interest in joining the program at go.illinois.edu/WeCUfall2020.
Thank you for your partnership and support.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Jones
Chancellor
