Why Work with Students

Being clear about why you want to work with student leaders to advance community engagement is an important first step to determining how they will be incorporated into your office structure. Clarifying what you have to offer and how students might benefit is another important piece of the puzzle.

This chart outlines some of the motivations of students and advisors for wanting to establish a student leadership program. A full listing of and more detail about these sections are found in the Manual (pages 24-26).

MOTIVATIONS FOR PROGRAMS / ADVISORS	MOTIVATIONS FOR STUDENTS
Inspires and renews our own work as community engagement professionals. Improves community engagement programming strategies. Increases the effectiveness of campus community partnerships. Builds infrastructure or community engagement in cost-effective ways	Develops practical experience and skills, as well as exposure to career options. Builds a well-rounded resume with demonstrated experience. Increases self-confidence from interacting with individuals seen as "authorities." Increases sense of achievement, self-worth, and an identity as a leader.

REFLECTION ACTIVITY (from page 28 of the Manual)

What are your motivations for working with students? Share and compare your responses with others on your planning team.

I once asked the former EPIC director how he came up with the idea to have students do all the tasks and run the program. He told me it was literally the only way they could get the work done. It made me realize that if you acknowledge that students are capable, and give them the opportunity, resources, training and support amazing things can happen.

—Jorge Uranga
Director of EPIC, CSU Los Angeles
Learn more about CSULA's program

The CSU Center for Community Engagement gratefully acknowledges the Surdna Foundation for its generous and visionary support of The Next Stage: Boosting Service Learning to New Heights, three-year grant initiative.