The Office for Civic and Social Engagement
Saint Mary's College
220 Student Center
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
574-284-5368
ocse@saintmarys.edu

Message from the Director

A History of the OCSE

Volunteer Abroad

Short-term Immersion (including summer)

Post-Graduate Service

Service Agencies by Category

Frequently (Un)asked Questions about Service

Service Learning

Grants for Faculty

OCSE Staff

A Theology of Service

Judicial Board Community Service


CAT Program:

Olivia Barzydlo

Student Director of the Office for Civic and Social Engagement for 2007-2008:

Joellyn Frain

The Student Office Assistants of the OCSE for 2008-2009:

Andrea Deja

Jayde Kennedy

Erin Seidelman

Emily Tarnacki


 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to The Office for Civic
and Social Engagement

The Office for Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE) is a unique resource center which exists for the benefit of the Saint Mary's College students, faculty and staff. We provide information on community service, one-time volunteer events, service-learning, and special speakers and events relating to community engagement.

The 12 Days of Christmas!

The 12 Days is the college-wide program to provide opportunities for giving, serving, engaging in spiritual reflection, and celebrating the season. Monies raised during this time are used toward the purchase of food, clothing and gifts for local families in need. Our families and individuals are provided to us through a variety of agencies: our Partner Title 1 schools (Warren, Coquillard, and Lincoln Primary Centers), REAL Services, Mental Health America, The Salvation Army, and Grandparents as Parents (GAP). See the various items below to learn more about the programming for December 1st through 12th.

Family and Individual Support: You can pick up a gift slip and purchase an item for someone in need. All gifts should be turned in by December 12th and must have the slip attached. You can wrap the gift if you like, or not. Pick up slips at the following locations: Mission Office (131 Le Mans Hall), Education Department (321 Madeleva Hall), Library Circulation desk (ask for Lisa Karle), Center for Spirituality (118W Spes Unica Hall), Campus Ministry (161 Regina Center), or the welcome desk in the atrium of the student center. Slips will be avilable for pick- up beginning on Monday November 17th.

Christmas Craft Show and Sale, Friday December 12th, 9:00 am until 3:00 pm in Reignbeaux Lounge, Le Mans Hall.: Click here for more information.

Multicultural Desserts Night: Tuesday December 2nd, 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the Student Center Lounge. Come by for agreat sampling of desserts, and bring a canned good to donate! (sponsored by Student Diversity Board)

Holiday Blood Drive: Tuesday December 2nd, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm in the lounge of the Student Center. Give the gift of life!

Pre-Kwanzaa Event: Wednesday December 3rd, 6:00 pm in the LIbrary. Come and learn about the traditions and history of Kwanzaa! (sponsored by Sisters of Nefritti)

Lunch or Dinner at Max and Erma's: Wednesday December 3rd. Take your friends and/or family to lunch or dinner at Max and Erma's and help out the 12 Days of Christmas project! Email us at ocse@saintmarys.edu and we'll send you a coupon!!

Bell Ringing for Salvation Army: Saturday December 6th, 9:00 to 5:00 pm in 30 minute slots. Location is in front of Macy's at the UP Mall. Email ocse@saintmarys.edu to reserve a spot.

Ornament Decorating: Sunday December 7th, 7:30 to 9:00 pm in Reignbeaux Lounge in Le Mans Hall. Take a study break and stop by to decorate ornaments -- wood, glass, ceramic blank ornaments available for a variety of prices from 50 cents to $2. (sponsored by Citizen Scholars and the CAT Program)

Holiday Dinner: Hosted by Sodexho, Monday December 8th in the Dining Hall. Join us as we welcome some residents and children from the Center for the Homeless to share a meal with us.

Cards for Kids: Come by the Reignbeaux Lounge in Le Mans Hall from 8:00 to 10:00 pm on Monday December 8th. For a donation ($1) you can make holiday cards for children at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. (sponsored by Dance Marathon)

Vespers Services: Monday December 8th through Thursday December 11th at 6:00 pm daily in Regina Chapel.

Gingerbread House Making: Tuesday December 9th, 7:00 pm in the Student Center Lounge. (sponsored by Student Activities Board)

Dalloways Holiday Event: Wednesday December 10th at 8:00 pm at Dalloways.

Candy grams: Three styles of candy-grams available to send to your friends, professors, co-workers, etc. Come see the newly designed, gorgeous grams! For sale December 3rd through December 11th during the lunch hour in the atrium of the student center. Cost is 50 cents to $1.

Cookie Decorating Party: Thursday December 11th, 9:00 to 10:30 pm, in Regina North Lounge. Stop by and help us decorate tons of sugar cookies for the sale at the Craft Show the following day!

Penny Wars: Residence Halls compete with each other! Look for the jars in your hall....(sponsored by Residence Hall Association)

 


 

Register Your Volunteer Hours! We will keep track of your hours and the location of your service or the event with which you were involved. This allows us to create a "service transcript" for you (if desired) at the end of the school year or at graduation. It also allows us to keep track of how much service Saint Mary's students are providing in general. (This also includes hours worked for Judicial Board sanctions and Federal Work Study Community Service off-campus placement sites.) If you would like to register the events or placements you have been involved with so we can add them to our data bank, please click here.

New Resource!

Looking for a speaker for a class, meeting, club or event? the OCSE is proud to introduce our new Speaker's Bureau. You can find speakers from the local non-profit community who are willing to speak on topics ranging from animals to law to violence prevention. Take a look at what's available by clicking here.

Be the change you want to see in the world!!

Get involved and make a difference.

The world needs you.

***

Saint Mary's makes the President's National Honor Roll

...with Distinction!

What does this mean?

Whatever you want to do....we will help you find the right placement! From working with children to helping build houses to walking dogs for the Humane Society, we can place where you want to be. Stop by (second floor of Student Center) or email us at ocse@saintmarys.edu -- we look forward to hearing from you!

 

New Car Use Policy: All individuals using an OCSE car must register in advance and must be checked by the Division of Motor Vehicles. Plan ahead!!

Need Transportation? We can help. We have cars available for student use -- but you must register in advance. Stop by or call the office (extension 5368) and we will put you on the schedule. Cars are for transportation to non-profit agencies only. We also have information about how to use the Transpo system in town to get you where you need to be -- and its free!

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

-- Oliver Wendell Holmes

The OCSE Mission Statement:

The mission of the Office for Civic and Social Engagement is three-fold: To inform the college community of service opportunities in the local Michiana area; To encourage students, faculty, and staff to give of themselves and their gifts through programs in volunteer service, community engagement and service-learning; and to offer a place for members of the college community to reflect on and discuss their experiences of engagement and service. Through these activities the Office for Civic and Social Engagement upholds the college mission to promote a life of social responsibility while also enlivening the hearts of participants and fostering justice and compassion.

Who We Are:

The Office for Civic and Social Engagement operates within the Division for Mission of Saint Mary's College, and is closely associated with Campus Ministry and the Center for Spirituality. Our College mission calls us to promote social responsibility and to acquire the ability to make socially responsible choices about the future.

 


To receive more info on the OCSE, service opportunities, or to express any service-related interests or concerns, please contact us at (574) 284-5368 or stop by our home, room 220 in the new student center!

Come and visit!