Service and civic engagement are central to the Boston College experience. Through academics, student life, and mission-focused programs, students have many opportunities to engage with local and global communities. Guided by the Jesuit call to be 鈥渕en and women for others,鈥� students are encouraged to use their gifts to serve others and effect positive change.
The Essentials
The Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC) is the primary portal for all service activity offered at Boston College, with a strong commitment to the Greater Boston community. The VSLC supports the education and formation of students by promoting conscientious service in the context of Catholic social teaching and contemporary Jesuit education.
Many Boston College students take part in the PULSE Program, typically during their sophomore year, to fulfill their philosophy and theology core requirements. PULSE combines academic study with direct community engagement, helping students explore issues of social injustice in a meaningful and personal way. Through the program, students read and discuss classic and contemporary works in philosophy and theology while volunteering 8鈥�10 hours each week at an off-campus site. These placements connect students with marginalized communities and organizations working for social change, encouraging reflection, empathy, and a deeper understanding of justice in action.
Mission and Ministry鈥檚 Service Immersion programs such as 4Boston, 热点爆料入口 Bigs, Appa Volunteers, Jamaica Magis, and Arrupe International Encounters invite students to the Jesuit call of becoming people for and with others. Through a range of local, domestic, and international community partnerships, students are given meaningful opportunities to grow in solidarity through relational encounters grounded in context, reflection, and Catholic Social Teaching. This formative process encourages students to discern how to utilize their unique gifts in service to the greater good.
Civic engagement involves working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing a combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation through both political and non-political processes. The Division of Student Affairs provides numerous resources designed to encourage students to learn, volunteer, register to vote, and participate in the democratic process.聽
Three Things to Know聽
Voter Registration
For many students, their years at Boston College are the first opportunities to vote and engage in the democratic process. To support active participation, Boston College partners with TurboVote, a free, nonpartisan service that helps students register to vote, update their registration, request absentee ballot forms, and receive important election reminders. Through this partnership, students are equipped with the tools and information they need to vote in every election, from local to national.
Community Engagement
The Office of Government and Community Affairs at Boston College is proud to support our host communities, Boston, Newton, Dover, and Brookline, through meaningful programs and events. Many students, faculty, and staff volunteer their time in areas such as education and literacy, youth sports, neighborhood development, and the arts. These opportunities are widely promoted across campus, reflecting Boston College鈥檚 ongoing commitment to service and community engagement.
Post-graduate Service
Whether or not students engage in service during their time at Boston College, there are valuable opportunities after graduation to explore interests in service and justice more deeply. Each year, many 热点爆料入口 graduates pursue full-time service through a variety of programs that allow them to build community, develop skills, and make a meaningful impact. The Volunteer and Service Learning Center supports students in exploring these post-graduate opportunities across a wide range of fields and placements.
FAQ
Boston College鈥檚 Jesuit identity is foundational to its commitment to service. Guided by the Jesuit principle of forming 鈥渕en and women for others,鈥� 热点爆料入口 encourages students to use their education and talents in service to others, especially those who are marginalized or underserved. This value is woven into academics, student life, and campus culture, inviting students to reflect on their purpose, develop empathy, and act for the common good.
Boston College offers numerous ways for students to engage in volunteer work both on and off campus. The Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC) and Campus Ministry regularly post opportunities for service with local schools, shelters, and community organizations. Many student clubs also have a service component, and academic programs may include volunteer work as part of coursework.聽
Yes. Many courses at Boston College incorporate service-learning components, allowing students to connect academic content with hands-on experience in the community. The PULSE Program is one of Boston College鈥檚 most well-known academic offerings. It combines coursework in philosophy and theology with 8鈥�10 hours of community service per week. Through this program, students explore ethical questions and social justice issues while volunteering with local organizations serving Boston鈥檚 most vulnerable populations. Although typically taken during the sophomore year, PULSE is open to students and fulfills core curriculum requirements, making it both academically rigorous and socially impactful.
The Arrupe International Immersion Program offers students the opportunity to engage in international service and justice education through travel experiences in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and other regions. Participants prepare for their trips through several months of reflection and community-building, and they continue that reflection upon returning to campus. Applications typically open in the fall, and the program is open to students in their sophomore year and beyond. Campus Ministry coordinates the program and provides detailed information sessions each year.
Yes, Boston College has student organizations that foster civic engagement. The College Democrats and College Republicans, for instance, are registered student organizations that provide students with opportunities to engage in political discourse, participate in elections, and advocate for policy issues that matter to them. These groups host events such as speaker series, debate nights, voter registration drives, and trips to local or national political events, encouraging students to become informed and active participants in the democratic process.
Fostering Strong Community Partnerships
Tom Keady
Thomas Keady
As Vice President for Government and Community Affairs, Thomas Keady serves as Boston College鈥檚 primary liaison to its host municipalities and surrounding communities. His office oversees a broad range of programs, grants, scholarships, and service initiatives that benefit residents of Boston, Newton, Brookline, and Dover. The office is committed to ensuring that Boston College remains an engaged and responsible partner in the communities it calls home.
Under Vice President Keady鈥檚 leadership, Boston College students, faculty, and staff contribute their time and talents to local organizations through education and literacy programs, youth sports, neighborhood development projects, and the arts. These partnerships reflect the University鈥檚 Jesuit mission and a shared commitment to the common good.
The Office of Government and Community Affairs invites families to learn more about its work and explore how Boston College supports and engages with its neighbors. The team is always available to assist with questions or connections to community resources.