Members of Communication, Culture and Health research team gathering data.

Service is just a part of who we are, and is exemplified by students and faculty and staff members in their work near and far.

One of the most direct forms comes through community-engaged scholarship, which connects communities and faculty members so they can work toward solving shared research questions.

Research projects include studying the quality of life in urban and rural communities, understanding how health is affected by public policy and many other projects.

Chancellor's Annual Toy DriveIn addition to supporting research, many campus staff members volunteer their time with area nonprofits, donate to nonprofits such as the United Way of Merced County, contribute to food and toy drives and serve on government boards and committees.

Staff Assembly organizes networking and public service events to help staff members connect with each other and to provide opportunities to help serve the area.

The Department of Public Safety holds an annual fundraiser to support its mentoring program, which helps empower local youth to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their potential.

Engineering Service Learning allows students from all majors and grade levels to work side-by-side with nonprofit agencies, government groups and educators to design and implement innovative engineering solutions to meet real-world challenges.

The Community Engagement Center (CEC) provides service opportunities for everyone on campus. The CEC coordinates community-based learning projects for courses, and manages four semester-long service initiatives for students: I CAN READ, Lift While You Lead, Merced County Project 10% and UC Sprouts.

The CEC organizes short-and long-term community service events for clubs and organizations, hosts two national days of service each year, and facilitates Thanksgiving Dinners for Families and Home for the Holidays programs. The CEC supports students, faculty members, staff members and the community.

If you are looking for a place to serve in the community, or you are a community partner agency or organization looking for a student group or class to help increase your capacity, visit Community Engagement Center.