Community Service Involvement

Personal Outcomes

• Greater sense of personal efficacy, personal identity, spiritual growth, and moral development
• Greater interpersonal development, particularly the ability to work well with others, and build leadership and communication skills

Social Outcomes

• Reduced stereotypes and greater inter-cultural understanding
• Improved social responsibility and citizenship skills
• Greater involvement in community service after graduation

Career Development

• Connections with professionals and community members for learning and career opportunities
• Greater academic learning, leadership skills, and personal efficacy can lead to greater opportunity Relationship with the Institution
• Stronger relationships with faculty
• Greater satisfaction with college
• Improved graduation rates

Student Engagement

Involvement and engagement across campus is important to successfully transitioning into student life on campus and the college experience. Participating in community service activities on and off campus can be a great way to build relations with peers, faculty and staff across campus. Various clubs and organization also exist on campus which have a community service related focus. Finding a club or organization with a focus on an area of interest can be a great way to connect with student who share a common interest and engagement in campus life. For information on clubs and organization at Lock Haven visit the CU-Lock Haven Student Involvement page.

The Presidential Volunteer Service Award is a national program that recognizes students who have completed 100-250 or more service hours in one academic year. In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.

The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation. 

Led by the AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers. 

Interested in learning more? Visit the Presidential Volunteer Service Award website. 

To participate and earn the PVSA Award at Lock Haven please complete this registration form.

The Office of Community Service at Lock Haven employs students to work with community service related jobs at local non-profit organizations. These paid jobs assist community organization in providing critical services to the community. Students can benefit from Federal Work Student-Off Campus roles by developing professional skills, building professional relationships and networks and gaining valuable interpersonal skills.

Students who received a Federal Work Study award in their financial aid package issued by the university have the opportunity to obtain a job and perform related duties either on campus, or remotely, if possible and at the discretion of the employer. A Federal Work Study award does not guarantee a job position is available.

In order to qualify for a Federal Work-Study award, students are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA). Students must complete and submit the FAFSA annually. For full consideration of financial aid opportunities, it is recommended that students complete their FAFSA by December 1 of the prior year. Federal Work-Study is a federal financial aid work program partially or fully funded by the United States Department of Education. In most cases, Commonwealth University contributes a portion of the funds for work study positions. The university administers this program in accordance with the laws, federal regulations and instructions issued by or on behalf of the Department of Education, as well as its own institutional policies. The Community Service Federal Work-Study program is funded jointly by Federal Work-Study and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

Students must also meet the following conditions:

• Be accepted for enrollment or be enrolled in at least six credits.
• Receive an award as part of their Student Aid Package and accept the offer or demonstrate federal financial need as determined by the FAFSA and verified by The Office of Financial Aid.
• Maintain while employed in the program.
• Remain in good standing on educational loans and grants per the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS).

Additional information concerning eligibility for Federal Financial Aid is available on the OSA Website. 

Student eligibility to participate in the program is reviewed routinely. Awards are provided for the academic year. Summer session awarding is based on enrollment criteria unique to the summer sessions.

For more information and to learn how to apply for one of this off-campus jobs, please contact us at cwise@commonwealthu.edu.

Throughout the year, the Office of Community Service at Lock Haven partners with numerous organizations in the Lock Haven community in order to serve and meet a greater community need. 

Some of our community partners include:

• The Salvation Army
• The Lock Haven Shoe Bank
• Clinton County CleanScapes
• Keep PA Beautiful
• Roads to Peace
• Clinton County Mentor Program
• YMCA