How does civic engagement differ from public service, outreach and volunteering?
Civic engagement can involve volunteering. Some schools’ programs, like the University of Iowa’s program and Michigan State University’s program, directly include volunteering in civic engagement. However, volunteering is not a requirement of civic engagement. A volunteer is a person or a group that responds to any need an organization might have, such as clerical or administrative duties and support. Community and civic engagement is a pedagogy integrating experiential learning community service in an academic context. The student is required to reflect on the place, people, experience, reactions and their relevance to course content. Community and civic engagement identifies community needs, enhances curriculum, and supports civic responsibility.
