VU101: July 25, 2022

Service Opportunities at Villanova

July 25, 2022

Villanova University and New Student Orientation will continue to send VU101 emails throughout the summer to keep you updated on important information and help prepare for your arrival. To view past emails, please visit the New Student Orientation website.

Service Opportunities at Villanova
St. Thomas of Villanova, the patron saint of the University, dedicated his life to working with the impoverished and most vulnerable people in his city. Following his example, service and justice are central to the mission of Villanova.   
    
Weekly Service*  
There are many types of weekly service opportunities to pursue depending upon your interest, availability and time commitment. Rays of Sunshine, RUIBAL First-Year Service and Community Outreach of Villanova (COV) programs provide volunteers the opportunity to tutor, mentor and support children in Philadelphia schools and community centers weekly. COV also provides an array of other opportunities to serve the Philadelphia community.    
 
*Please note: If you are interested in volunteering in programs or activities involving minors, you will need to complete the mandatory background checks outlined in Villanova’s Criminal Background Check process. For more information, visit the Admitted Students Information on Volunteering with Minors website.
   
Annual Days of Service  
St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service
Each year, the Day of Service brings together nearly 5,000 students, faculty, staff and alumni together in partnership with neighborhood agencies to perform service throughout greater Philadelphia and beyond.
    
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service   
Entering its 15th year in 2022, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service celebrates the legacy of Dr. King by bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to improve lives, bridge social barriers and move our nation closer to the "Beloved Community" that Dr. King envisioned.    
    
Student Service Organizations  
Engaging in community service provides students with the opportunity to become active members of the community while impacting society at large. Volunteering creates special bonds with the population being served and it increases social awareness and responsibility. For a full list of Villanova’s service-based student organizations, visit our VU Groups website dedicated to student service organizations.  
    
Service and Justice Experiences (SJEs)  
Every semester, Service and Justice Experiences allow students to engage with community partners committed to working for justice in the world. Students meet weekly in small groups to build community, engage in social analysis and share in prayerful reflection. As part of the experience, students travel in small groups over semester breaks to locations domestically and internationally where they engage in acts of service and develop a critical awareness of contemporary social issues.

Villanova University and New Student Orientation are looking forward to welcoming you to campus. If you have additional questions regarding Orientation, please contact us at orientation@villanova.edu, and follow us on Instagram at @NovaOrientation.