Community Service and Gem Awards

Community Service Policy Statement Pertaining to Student Volunteers

Sociology, Anthropology, and Crime and Justice Studies Programs

Scottish-born essayist, satirist, historian, and man of letters Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), wrote in his 1827 Critical and Miscellaneous Essays that “the great law of culture is: Let each become all that he was created capable of being.” Within the spirit of that context, the School of Social Sciences and International Studies at Wright State University recognize the educational value of service learning. Students become proactively involved in locally sponsored community service events and/or with select human service agencies that would expose them to the cultural diversity and/or needs of the local community. Consistent with the contemporary service philosophy promulgated by the Corporation for National and Community Service, sociology and criminal justice majors are encouraged to give back to the community through the community.

Such undertakings are separate from and not part of the accredited internship program. Rather, they involve a volunteered commitment to community service through the student’s own volition under the possible guidance of a faculty member.

Famed historian and auditor-magistrate at the court of Versailles in France, Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville (1805-1859) noted in his dual work on Democracy in America (1835 and 1840), that one of the major characteristics defining the American populace was its dedication to community service and community involvement. Hence, faculty can and do serve as sources of information relevant to their own professional interests and commitments pertaining to the community. Students have the opportunity to seek from the faculty and/or their assigned academic advisers, input relevant to possible service learning activities based on their own social science centered research.

Recognizing the educational value of an active service learning commitment, the School of Social Sciences and International Studies will, toward the conclusion of a given academic year, issue a Certificates of Merit for Volunteered Community Service. Awards will be based on the number of documented community service hours the student has volunteered within the given academic year. Toward the conclusion of the academic year, students are to submit on an agency’s letterhead a statement noting the number of hours the student volunteered during the university’s academic calendar year as well as their given activities. The letter should be sent to the program’s internship coordinator prior to the conclusion of the academic year during the penultimate month.

The Gem Awards

Merit for Volunteered Community Service

Recognizing the educational value of an active service learning commitment, the School of Social Sciences and International Studies will issue a Certificates of Merit for Volunteered Community Service. Awards will be based on the number of documented community service hours the student has volunteered within the given academic year.

Award Levels

Noting Wright State University’s traditional colors are that of green and gold, the following Gem Awards will rank the issued Certificates of Merit for Volunteered Community Service.

Award Level	Community Service Hours
Yellow Sapphire	200
Emerald	175
Yellow Topaz	150
Peridot	125