What is Service?

How we define “Serve” in Public Service Pathways

The act of service is a collaborative process between an individual and the community that cultivates personal transformation. The Public Service Pathways ‘Serve’ component of the program should include your participation in service activities, which are defined as: volunteer work (e.g., at Madison House), community-engaged coursework, community-engaged work-study programs, or engagement with a public service CIO. These service activities should be centered around proactive participation in the community while addressing community-identified priorities. Additionally, these activities should reflect follow-through on the student’s behalf to complete the service work, personal development through reflection, and altruistic intent in connecting with community organizations, with the ultimate goal of mutual growth and benefit over time for both the community and student.1

Guiding Questions

To help students identify if an opportunity fits our Serve criteria, students can ask themselves:

  • Willingness: To what degree does this opportunity require a donation of my time, personal agenda, and desires, within the limitations of my role as a student?
  • Commitment: To what degree does this opportunity require my continued presence, as well as time and effort?
  • Community-Identified Priorities and Social Equity: To what degree does this opportunity recognize and address community-identified priorities?
  • Openness: To what degree does this opportunity enable me to engage in active listening, thoughtful communication, and a curious mindset to learn about a specific community?
  • Sustainability: To what degree does this opportunity allow for recorded, prolonged engagement with a community stakeholder, both as an individual and member of the University community, even after my departure from the University?
  • Reciprocity: To what degree does this opportunity require my own leadership and a willingness to learn from experts in the community? How does this mutual process connect to my career goals?

1 In the spirit of our competencies, this definition and guiding questions were developed in consort with the Student Advisory Council, UVA students, the Public Service Pathways Advisory Groups made up of UVA faculty and staff, Madison House, and community partners.