As a college student, it is important to engage in experiences that connect academic learning to civic, professional, and community settings.
For many, this is where education starts to feel meaningful and connected to who they want to be after graduation, says Craig Berger, associate director of Civic and Community Engagement in the Center for Student Involvement.
At Kent State, civic engagement gives students chances to make choices, build real connections, feel like they belong, and find purpose. Civic and Community Engagement in the university’s Center for Student Involvement helps students build community, learn how to lead with others in mind, and make a difference.
Programs focus on service, leading the community, and helping students feel empowered, including service and volunteer opportunities, Community Action Fellows, and Kent State Votes. Civic and Community Engagement reminds students that being at Kent State means being part of something bigger and knowing you have a role in helping others, says Berger.
Student Impact
One of the biggest changes students show is an increase in confidence, along with humility. According to Berger, many students start their college experience thinking that they need to have a title in order to make a difference; they leave knowing that civic leadership is about working with others. They also learn useful skills like communication and project management, but, just as importantly, they gain empathy, self-awareness, and a better understanding of their own values.
Community Impact
Through the Community Action Fellows program, students work year-round as student employees on issues such as ensuring people have enough food, literacy support, protecting the environment, and getting involved in the community. Last year, one Fellow who studied Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising created and ran indigo-dye workshops for other students. The workshops showed students how to use natural dyes, giving future industry workers a chance to learn safer, less polluting methods for fabric dyeing. What makes this project and others like it special is not just the results, but the process. Students learn to work together with others instead of just “helping,” and communities get partners who are caring, dependable, and involved.
How do I make a civic impact?
Students don’t need prior experience to get started, just curiosity and a willingness to show up. Civic and Community Engagement isn’t about being an expert or having everything figured out.
The 2026–2027 Community Action Fellow application is now live, with a submission deadline of Monday, March 16. The program welcomes any student who wants to gain experience making change on campus and in the surrounding community while developing civic skills, forging new relationships, and getting paid.
Students are encouraged to follow the Center for Student Involvement (@csikent) and Civic and Community Engagement (@kentstateciviccommunity) on Instagram, attend events, or reach out via email at csi@kent.edu
For students looking for a place to start impacting their community—or a place to belong—Civic and Community Engagement is ready to help them find it.
