Since Smith educates women of promise for lives of distinction, it's no surprise that entering Smith students are more concerned with becoming community leaders and influencing social values, promoting racial understanding and protecting the environment than are women entering other highly selective colleges. In fact, 80 percent of Smith students rate helping others who are in difficulty as a "very important" or "essential" objective.
Engaging With the Community
Engaging with local and global communities to make a difference is one critical component of a Smith education, while students also explore the hands-on implications of academic studies, values and passions, as well as one's role as an active member of a community.
The Center for Community Collaboration (CCC) is committed to developing reciprocal partnerships with community groups and to helping Smith students engage with communities in a variety of ways. More than 40 percent of Smith seniors participate in some sort of volunteer service during their time at Smith. Some take on leadership roles and become involved in long- or short-term volunteering through the Community Service Office or through their houses and others tutor math and reading as their work-study jobs.
New CESC Concentration
Look for more information about the new Community Engagement and Social Change Concentration sponsored by the CCC here.
Community-Based Courses, Research & Outreach
Smith students integrate community engagement into their academic work, participating in Community-Based Learning (CBL) courses and Community-Based Participatory Research projects (CBPR). Each semester CBL courses at Smith and around the Five Colleges explore such topics as land use politics and global women's health issues. To accommodate their busy academic schedules, other students choose to get involved during school breaks, such as Praxis interns working with a community organization during the summer.
Contact Us
If you are a student interested in any of these opportunities, please contact us to introduce yourself and learn more about your options for connecting with the community. You can also visit our News & Announcements page to find the most current information about upcoming programs and new initiatives.
Visit the Community Service Office Web site for more information about finding the perfect fit, organizing transportation and tips for personal safety.
