Civic Engagement Activities may:

• take place on or off campus, in Syracuse or elsewhere
• be a component of a service learning course
• have a partisan political or faith-based focus.

Some examples follow of the kinds of unpaid activities that can be used toward the Civic Engagement requirement:

• co-curricular activities of significance to the public good (e.g., student government, publications, school, college, or university committees, peer advising, University 100)
• public service and community participation (e.g. homeless services, environmental protection advocacy, service work with religious organizations, partisan political activities, government boards and commissions)
• arts and culture contributions through performances in a University music, dance, drama, or other performance group (10 hours maximum)

Certain paid experiences that contribute to the public good may be used, including:

• Literacy Corps (40 hours maximum)
• Resident Advisor (30 hours maximum)
• Peer Tutoring through the University’s Learning Center (20 hours maximum)
• Campus media outlets such as the Daily Orange, Citrus TV, Jerk Magazine, etc (30 hours maximum)

Hours and Documentation:

Please remember that service hours must be entered on our website within one year of the date(s) of service. For example, if you volunteer on 8/1/2023 then we ask that you enter them on our website by 8/1/2024.

Hours must be served with an established organization.

Students can serve as supervisors, but family members cannot.

Hours earned before you entered college cannot count toward your requirement through Honors.

Students who transfer to SU can request that Honors accept hours earned at another institution.

We do have maximums that apply to the following activities:

• Literacy Corps (40 hours maximum)
• Resident Advisor (30 hours maximum)
• Peer Tutoring through the University’s Learning Center (20 hours maximum)
• Campus media outlets such as the Daily Orange, Citrus TV, Jerk Magazine, etc (30 hours maximum)

Honors can help you connect with other programs, both on campus and in the wider Syracuse community.  One of the best ways to learn more about the opportunities available is to check the want ads regularly. We've also put together a short list of starting places designed to help you begin to explore.

Some courses at SU include a service-learning component.  These can be an efficient way to make progress on your academic requirements and Honors civic engagement requirements simultaneously. For example, every year, there are sections of WRT 105/109 (fall) and WRT 205/209 (spring) that include this component.  Additional courses that have included a service learning component are here, and you may come across others. Be sure to check with the faculty member to confirm that a section you plan to take will have this component.  Please note that some of these courses are restricted or have prerequisites.