Student Civic Engagement Funding Resources
The Dumke Center for Civic Engagement provides funding resources for students. These funding opportunities range from creating one-time projects to designing and implementing year-long projects.
CEG provides the opportunity for Westminster University students to hold a paid position with a local nonprofit organization, allowing them to become more involved in the community and participate in meaningful service. This volunteer appointment requires critical thinking and skill development. In other words, the work must be more advanced. Participating students will be enrolled as Westminster student employees to provide financial compensation for their work with the nonprofit organization ($14.50/hour, at 2-10 hours a week).
These hours count toward the 20-hour student employee maximum. Although you are working for the nonprofit, your funding comes from the Dumke Center for Civic Engagement at Westminster University. You cannot work more than 20 hours between your student-employment positions. The total length of the program is a semester long.
Program Instructions
- Fill out the online application.
- Meet with the program coordinator for an interview and complete pre-evaluation.
- Attend a CEG’s orientation
- Submit hours electronically through ADP.
- Have monthly check-ins with the program coordinator for resources, mentoring, and reflection on the CEG program.
- Complete a change project, which includes:
- A project outline that addresses a need of your designated nonprofit
- Meetings with the program coordinator to discuss ideas, details, and logistics
- Examples: recruiting and organizing new volunteers, coordinating a winter clothing drive, or purchasing new art supplies for an elementary school classroom
- Attend a Dumke Center reflection reception at the end of the semester.
The Dumke Center for Civic Engagement grants three to five awards per international service-learning experience. To receive the awards, participants must complete 60 hours (at least 40 hours of which must be at one nonprofit) of service in the local community. The intention of this award is to engage students in the community to enhance their service-learning experience abroad.
Once your hours and paper have been finalized, you will receive a reimbursement check. Taxes will be removed from your award.
Email Julie Tille at jtille@westminsteru.edu to apply.
Award Instructions
- Fill out the online application.
- Meet with Julie Tille, Dumke Center director.
- Complete 60 hours of service in the Salt Lake community between January and April—40 of those hours must be done with one community organization.
- Maintain a hard-copy record of hours that includes signatures of nonprofit supervisors, which will be turned in to the program coordinator.
- Submit a 1–2 page paper that addresses:
- What you learned during your local engagement
- How your service affected your community
- How you positively contributed to the nonprofit you worked with
- How you think this experience will enhance your international experience
The SLICE Program is designed for students who are passionate about a community issue and would like to take on a leadership role to address that issue. Up to $500 can be provided for the student initiative, giving them the resources to make a meaningful impact in their community. Participants develop partnerships with members of the community, other students, staff, and faculty and gain skills in leadership, communication, collaboration, and social responsibility.
Some examples of SLICE programs include Mental Health Awareness Day, donation drives, and funds to purchase cameras for an after school program in South Salt Lake.
Funding for a club’s civic engagement effort is available through Associated Students of Westminster (ASW) as well as other grants on campus. If all funding options have been exhausted, the Dumke Center program director will review a club’s application. However, approval is not guaranteed.
Program Instructions
- Submit a SLICE application and meet with the program coordinator for an interview.
- Collaborate with your community partner and the Dumke Center program coordinator as you implement your project.
- Turn in a check reimbursement form to receive SLICE funding.
- Submit an end-of-project budget and reflection paper.
- Attend a Dumke Center Reflection Reception at the end of the semester.