Signature Community Engagement Experiences for Students

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a week-long immersion program designed for students to learn about communities here in Louisville and the regional area, including but not limited to West Virginia and Indiana, which are challenged by specific social issues. Each trip is designed to encourage deeper understanding of those specific social issues and one's personal responsibility to affect change within communities. Alternative Spring Break is coordinated through the Center for Community Engagement. Leadership team applications are live on Engage, April through August, and participant applications are live on Engage, August through February. Alternative Spring Break cost $25 dollars. All other expenses, including travel, lodging, and food are supplied by the CCE.  

The Bellarmine Bonner Leaders Program upholds Bellarmine’s commitment to preparing globally fluent, engaged citizens, while addressing critical social issues related to equity and inclusion. At Bellarmine we believe community engagement is meaningful work. Community engagement provides students an opportunity for critical self-reflection, interaction with people and communities from different backgrounds as well as valuable career exploration, skill development and networking opportunities. 

The Bellarmine Bonner Leaders Program is specifically designed for students who express a commitment to community engagement and who demonstrate financial need. Bellarmine Bonners are matched with nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies that address diverse social and community issues, with an emphasis on the following areas: 

• Health & Wellness
• Education
• Financial Empowerment
• Criminal Justice
• Human Services
• Environmental Sustainability

The Bellarmine Bonner Leaders Program includes up to 10 students per incoming class, who serve as part-time employees at an approved nonprofit organization off-campus. The program is open to all Federal Work Study & KREBS-eligible students. Upon applying to the program, students will meet with the Center for Community Engagement to match students with an approved community partner site based on the student’s area of interest and career goals. 

Bellarmine Bonners will enter a cohort of student employees dedicated to strengthening the quality of life for people and their community. Students will also have access to training sessions, workshops, and weekly seminars that address social issues and cultivate career-readiness skills. 

Expectations: 

• All participants commit to working approximately 10 hours per week. Number of hours per week is based on the student’s total award, organization’s needs, and the student’s class schedule.
• First-year students can expect to:
• Spend 80% of their time working at an approved community partner organization off-campus.
• Spend 20% of their time attending training and enrichment workshops, facilitated by the Center for Community
• First-year students will complete a Bellarmine Bonner Orientation at the start of the academic year.
• Engagement, where students meet and build relationships with the Bellarmine Bonner Leaders cohort.
• All participants commit to a 4-year community engagement and leadership development pathway.

Benefits: 

• Students earn $11 per hour, until annual award is earned (approximately 102 hours per semester). 
• Students gain access to weekly leadership development, civic engagement, and career-readiness training. 
• Graduates join a network of nationally recognized Bonner Leader alumni and go on to make a significant impact in their professional and civic communities. 

To Apply: 

• Go to Handshake and log in using your Bellarmine email and password.
• Click on Jobs and search “Bonner Leaders: A Bellarmine FWS/KREBS Work Study Program at Community Sites throughout Louisville.&rdquo
• Submit your resume OR 150-word explanation of why you want to do community engagement work through the Handshake website
• The application deadline for the Class of 2026 is September 30, 2022.
• Contact the Center for Community Engagement for application details at communityengagement@bellarmine.edu

The Bellarmine Center for Community Engagement launched a new program entitled, Bellarmine Pathways: Knights Lighting a Path for College, in the fall 2020, which is focused on connecting current Bellarmine students with middle and high school students to help share their lived experiences with the success skills necessary for college. Bellarmine students will lead virtual and in-person sessions with groups of approximately 10-20 middle and/or high school students to explore the subjects of wellness, financial literacy, identity development, time management, communication, study skills, involvement, and major/career exploration. 

• Bellarmine students can apply for this opportunity either through Handshake as a Federal Work Study/KREBS student employee or as an academic internship if a student has 50+ credit hours. All majors are welcome to apply!
• Register your high school student for the Bellarmine Pathways Program through the Continuing Studies page of the Bellarmine website. 
• Click "Enroll Now."
• Click "Enroll Now."
• Click "Continue as a Guest."
• If parents are registering students, click "Spouse or Dependent." If students are registering themselves, click "myself."
• Click "Fall 2022 Continuing Ed."
• Click "CE Youth."
• Click "CEYU-570 Pathways to College."
• Click "Add to Cart."

The Bellarmine Pathways program is a part of the Bellarmine Trustee Scholarship offering. If a middle or high school student completes the Bellarmine Pathways program and files their FASFA, they will be awarded a $1500 scholarship to Bellarmine University. 

• The Bellarmine Center for Community Engagement launched a new program entitled, Bellarmine Pathways: Knights Lighting a Path for College, in the fall 2020, which is focused on connecting current Bellarmine students with middle and high school students to help share their lived experiences with the success skills necessary for college. Bellarmine students will lead virtual and in-person sessions with groups of approximately 10-20 middle and/or high school students to explore the subjects of wellness, financial literacy, identity development, time management, communication, study skills, involvement, and major/career exploration. 
• The Bellarmine Center for Community Engagement initiated a new program entitled, RISE tutoring, in the spring 2021, which connects Bellarmine undergraduate students with K-12 students to help meet the academic needs of local students. Bellarmine students will receive 6 hours of training before starting their virtual tutoring with BLOCS organizations partnered with Metro United Way. If a Bellarmine student trains successfully, completes 30 hours of tutoring, and submits a background check (paid for by Metro United Way), 2 letters of recommendation (1 completed by Metro United Way and 1 completed by Bellarmine CCE staff), and an unofficial transcript, they will receive the National Tutoring Certificate that is valid for 2 years.
• Students can apply to participate in the RISE tutoring program through Handshake or register for a Plus 1 BU250 practicum that is attached to one of their current courses in order to earn an extra hour of academic credit and complete 30 hours of community engagement through tutoring.
• Through Metro United Way funding, RISE tutors will be paid $10/hour for up to 150 hours per semester.

Knights in Action

Knights in Action: Co-hosted by the Office of Orientation, New Student, Family Programming, and the Center for Community Engagement, this program allows incoming first-year students to explore community engagement opportunities outside of Bellarmine and engage with neighborhoods and nonprofits in the greater Louisville community before even starting classes. As the largest annual service project at Bellarmine, it introduces students to our tradition of community engagement, creating connections between their Bellarmine community and the Louisville community. View pictures from our latest Knights in Action event. 

MLK Week of Service

MLK Week of Service: Co-hosted by the Office of Identity and Inclusion and the Center for Community Engagement, MLK Day of Service has looked different each year, but is now expanded into a week that involves students volunteering for at least two hours and participating in educational, interactive programming honoring the legacy of civil rights hero Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Community Connections

Community Connections: Hosted by the Student Government Association, Community Connections are once per month and provide opportunities for small groups of students to visit local nonprofits and volunteer for two hours on a Saturday morning.

Family Weekend Service Projects

Family Weekend Service Projects: Hosted by the Office of Orientation, New Student, and Family Programming, Family Weekend service projects provide an opportunity for Bellarmine students’ family members to get acquainted with the Louisville community and spend time with their student through service projects with local nonprofits.

Knights Pantry is a no-cost food pantry that provides supplemental items to Bellarmine students, faculty, and staff. The pantry locations are Centro Treece Hall 225 and Siena Terzo 117. To visit the main pantry outside of normal business hours, call Public Safety at 502.272.7777. Students and staff are welcome to take whatever they need from the pantry as often as they need. Pantry use is completely anonymous. Please reach out to the Center for Community Engagement if you would like to host a donation drive or be involved in the student leadership team for Knights Pantry.

Bellarmine boasts a number of student-led organizations whose missions center around volunteerism and community engagement. Check out Engage.Bellarmine.edu to explore all Registered Student Organizations. 

What is MobileServe? 

MobileServe is the community engagement tracking platform for Bellarmine University. It makes tracking and verifying community engagement hours easy. The platform allows volunteers and organizations to share stories, connect people with organizations, and inspire a culture of doing good. 

How do I sign up?

Go to one.bellarmine.edu and click on Community Engagement to go straight to the MobileServe platform. Download the MobileServe app for easy access. 

1. When logging into the app for the first time, tap on the Microsoft logo to log in with your Bellarmine credentials
2. Accept the permissions (to sign-in).
3. Upload a profile photo or skip (and add photo later).
4. Click Start Serving to log hours or click Opportunities to discover new organizations and volunteer needs
5. Verify your community engagement by allowing the app to verify your location, post a picture, OR send a verification email to the organization you worked with.

How do I log hours for a class or Registered Student Organization? 

1. Click the Settings icon next to your name in left-hand column of MobileServe.
2. Select organizations.
3. Click Join Organization and enter the join code unique to your course or RSO. You can find these codes on Engage.
4. When you log hours you’ll be able to designate a specific subgroup.
5. Your faculty member or community site supervisor will be able to see your verified service experience.

For more information on how to use MobileServe, email Dr. Liz Todd Byron (etodd@bellarmine.edu).