Apply to Become a MWCC Service Site
MWCC students provide community service in numerous forms, and have a great impact on our community. We welcome existing and new partnerships in our effort to instill a commitment to service within our students as well as to create a tangible impact in our community.
Requirements for MWCC Service Sites:
- Our students are not allowed to provide service in anyone's home; your organization must have an office or available public space for use (i.e., library)
- Ensure that someone within your organization has the capacity to oversee/manage your requested project(s); there are different levels of commitment for service learning, volunteerism or internships - be sure that you can accommodate someone at an introductory level
- Provide a supportive work environment to foster student retention and an ongoing commitment to service
- Complete an evaluation for each student placed with your organization
- Accommodate a site visit at a mutually convenient time (for organizations hosting internship students or large groups of students)
MWCC Service Site Application
Applications are processed in two to four weeks. Approved applications are disseminated out directly to faculty and students for consideration. Some placements may require a site visit prior to approval. While MWCC continues to accept and process service site applications, the best time to submit an application is prior to the beginning of each academic semester (August submission for projects between September-December; January submission for projects between February-May).
If you are in need of assistance in project development, please contact Fagan Forhan, the Director of Experiential Learning Opportunities & Civic Engagement, at 978-630-9595.
Service Site Applicant Q&A
Question: We are located in Boston. Is this too far?
Answer: This is a bit far for our students, as we’re about an hour and a half outside Boston; however, if you have something that can be done remotely, by all means submit it for student consideration! For example, a group of students recently worked with a local veterans agency to collect donations and put together ‘welcome kits’ for veterans moving into transitional housing. At no point did the students need to visit the nonprofit in person, but they were still able to have a significant impact. We do ask if an organization presents a “portable” project like this that the organization provide some mechanism, preferably an in-person discussion with the students, to help our students clearly understand how the work/service they’re doing impacts the community.
Question: We are a faith-based 501c3 organization. Are we still eligible?
Answer: Yes! You're still eligible, as long as our students aren't providing religious instruction, conducting worship services or engaging in any form of proselytizing.
Did You Know?
- Mount Wachusett Community College students provide an average of 15,000 hours of community service to North Central Massachusetts each year; that's a value of nearly $400,000 in service to address identified areas of need in our region.
- In 2011, MWCC completed a 'Decade of Civic Engagement', and is launching into a second 'Decade of Civic Engagement', with renewed and focused efforts to create positive social change for our students, staff, faculty and communities.
- MWCC has been recognized as a national leader in service and civic engagement, through the awarding of the prestigious Carnegie Classifications in Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships and the Presidents Community Service Honor Roll (awarded with Distinction in 2010).