Community Engagement
All members of Roadrunner Nation have a role and responsibility in giving back to their community through advocacy, civic engagement, or volunteerism. Students can recognize their civic potential and take initiative to develop it by becoming educated on social issues and serving the individuals for whom those issues are a reality. Student Life connects students with individual and collaborative actions designed to identify and address social issues locally, nationally, and globally.
Students Advocating for Volunteer Efforts (SAVE)
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SAVE Leaders are a group of students committed to creating and hosting programs designed to identify and address social issues locally, nationally, and globally.
All students are eligible to participate in programs hosted by SAVE. Students may also apply to serve on one of four committees. Serving on a committee provides students with practical opportunities to develop leadership capacity and apply leadership awareness, knowledge, competencies, and skills.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Our organization is made up of two different committees each focusing on unique programs and initiatives: (1) Community Engagement and Outreach; (2) Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement. More details on each committee can be found below.
Committee members do not need prior student leadership experience but should have a passion for creating positive change and giving back to their community. Applications close on July 27th, at 11:59 pm. All applicants will be subject to a GPA and conduct check.
The Executive Director works closely with all committees. Applicants who qualify for Campus or Federal Work-Study will be paid hourly. Other applicants will be eligible for a semester-based stipend.
Program Managers must have served at least one academic year on SAVE or two years in a student leadership position at a collegiate level. These applicants agree to take on additional responsibilities within the organization and chair one of two committees – (1) Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement; (2) Community Engagement and Outreach.
Statement of interest writing prompts are below:
- Executive Director: How would you build community within the organization and help develop its members?
- CLDE Program Manager: What is your current understanding of democratic engagement and why is this work important for Dalton State?
- CEO Program Manager: What is your philosophy for community engagement? How can SAVE leverage community engagement and outreach to truly make a difference in our community?
To learn more about programs offered through SAVE, you can explore each of the committees and their offerings by clicking one of the options below to expand the details:
The Community Engagement and Outreach Committee focuses on volunteer initiatives that will help to create and maintain a culture of community engagement at Dalton State College. This committee’s primary responsibility will be recruiting, training, and connecting student volunteers to local agencies in need. Signature events and initiatives include:
Community Action Days
Community Action Days (CADs) are monthly service projects where students are invited to travel off campus to learn from, grow with, and serve the communities that exist beyond the confines of our campus. With a focus on meaningful service accompanied by reflection, CAD seeks to spark compassion for and connection with oneself, the campus community, local service agencies, and the neighborhoods and members of the greater Northwest Georgia Area.
The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance or 9/11 Day is a federally-recognized day of unity and charitable service, annually observed throughout the United States and in other countries around the world on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. It has grown to become the largest annual day of charitable service in the United States. As a campus, we reflect on the tragedy of 9/11 and the unity sparked by all who came together to serve on that day by coordinating multiple service project opportunities to showcase unity across our community.
The Big Event is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to express our campuses gratitude and support to our community. The Big Event is traditionally known to be the largest one-day, student-run service project on many campuses across the nation. This event happens every April in coordination with Spring Fling.
The easiest way to stay up to date on these events is to visit our agency page on RoadrunnerServe.
The Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE) committee promotes engaged citizenship through democratic participation and social responsibility by creating awareness campaigns, educational programming, and professional development that provide fellow Roadrunners with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to make a difference in their communities. The CLDE committee will plan and execute projects, events, and initiatives to meet all aspects of the Campus Plan for Democratic Engagement.
We believe that civic engagement challenges students to do more than just volunteer. It requires them to develop and use a combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make a difference within the community. This type of engagement encourages students to ask the difficult questions, find the root causes, and implement solutions. To help students gain the knowledge, skills, values, and motivation needed, Student Life has collaborated with various campus and community partners to provide the following signature programs and resources:
- Constitution Week
- Voter Registration, Education, Out to Vote
Alternative Break Trips
Alternative Breaks strive to connect and send groups of Dalton State students to engage in affordable community-based service projects. During this break from class, students are provided the opportunity to learn about the problems faced by members of communities with whom they may otherwise have had little to no direct contact.
This immersion in diverse environments enables students to experience, discuss, and understand social issues in a significant way encouraging them to act in their own communities.
You can check-out upcoming trip details by clicking on one of the following:
- Alternative Fall Break Trips
- Alternative Spring Break Trip
- Summer Trips
- You Make New Friends and Build Lasting Relationships.
Alternative Break Trips help you connect with a variety of students from across campus with whom you may have not otherwise connected. These connections often develop into new friendships. Who knows, you may leave the trip with a life long friend. - You are encouraged to stretch out of your comfort zone.
Many trips will be working with individuals or groups who are facing social issues you may not be comfortable with i.e. homelessness, food insecurity, etc. This is okay and often our natural response. These trips are designed to be educational in nature and provide a safe space for you to have hands-on learning with whatever social issue the trip is focused on. - Each trip takes you on a new adventure.
Whether you have never traveled outside of your home county or you have stepped foot on all seven continents, each trip is a new adventure and allows you to travel with a new perspective. You will learn about a new place, engage in language and cultural exploration, and participate in a number of service projects that allow you to connect with the "local" community we are serving. - Projects Provide Hands-On Learning and Skill Development.
These trips will be a positive step forward for your personal and professional development. You will develop soft skills associated with teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, adaptability, and flexibility. - Each participant will receive approved volunteer hours.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn about relevant social issues as well as complete service projects that make a direct impact on those issues. Volunteer experience gives your resume the hands on experience you need to stand out in any application or interview. (Weekend Trips: 14+ Hours; Week Long Trips: 30+ Hours)
Alternative Break trips go across the country. The map below represents Alternative Break Trips from 2009-present.
Volunteering through RoadrunnerServe
Student Life believes all members of Roadrunner Nation have a role and responsibility in giving back to their community through advocacy, civic engagement, or volunteerism. Students can recognize their civic potential and take initiative to develop it by becoming educated on social issues and serving the individuals for whom those issues are a reality. Student Life utilizes the RoadrunnerServe platform to help connect students with individual and collaborative actions designed to identify and address social issues locally, nationally, and globally.
If you are a currently enrolled student, faculty, or staff member, Student Life has already created an account for you! You can easily log in to your RoadrunnerServe account by using your Dalton State email address and selecting the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. This will prompt our team to send you directions on how to set up or reset your password. If the system does not recognize you as a user, please call 706-712-8234 or email roadrunnerserve@daltonstate.edu.
Community Partners are nonprofit organizations, public agencies, government offices, schools, and certain private businesses that provide community service or service-learning opportunities. Any Community Partner in the Northwest, GA, or surrounding area is eligible to create an Agency Account within RoadrunnerServe.
CREATING AN AGENCY ACCOUNT
To register your agency, please complete the following steps:
- Complete the Agency Registration Form, here.
- Complete the required fields, and click “submit now”.
- Wait for an agency approval email from roadrunnerserve@daltonstate.edu.
Once you have created your account, you can begin posting opportunities! As a new Agency Manager, we highly recommend you look through the tutorials below to become acquainted with the portal's many features. If you have a specific project or event coming up and you would like to partner with our SAVE Leaders and Student Life to provide transportation to a small group of 12-15 students, please contact Heather Williams, Assistant Director of Leadership & Civic Engagement to begin the conversation.
Voting is one of the most important civic duties of American citizens. Below are some helpful resources to ensure you vote in the next election.
GEORGIA VOTERS:
Use the State of Georgia Online Voter Registration System for the following:
- Check and see if you are registered to vote
- Register to vote
- Make changes to your current registration record
- Check your voter status, locate your polling place, and more
You can also check out the State of Georgia FAQ Page.
DON’T LIVE IN GEORGIA?
Check here for more information on voting.
Contact Us
Location: Dean of Students Office, Pope Student Center
Email: hwilliams@daltonstate.edu
Phone: 706-272-4428
Have Questions? Book a meeting here.