The community service and volunteer programs developed and promoted within the Office of Community Service Learning are intended to provide opportunities that combine both learning and serving process, build community and culture, strengthen leadership skills and ethics, and increase awareness of our society's needs. In addition, service-learning activities attempt to complement the academic programs and enhance the overall educational experiences for students, faculty and staff. This is done through the promotion of and assistance in integration of community service into the regular curricula of courses taught at the University of Southern Mississippi. Over 90 Hattiesburg social service agencies have volunteer positions registered with the OSCL volunteer clearinghouse. Staff members will help you find an opening that matches your interests with the needs of the agency.
Assistance is available for course development, student placement, etc.
V.I.S.I.O.N. members coordinate a variety of service projects each semester. The organization involves approximately 30 student leaders and over 200 student volunteers. During the 1998 - 1999 academic year, elementary school students showed a 2.41 increase in reading levels as a result of the program. Youth Volunteer Program OCSL sponsors structured volunteer opportunities for Hattiesburg youth, ages 8 - 17, during the summber break. Students are supervised by college and high school mentors and serve in such areas as literacy, helpling the elderly, and more.