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student seahawks volunteer their time to help community needs

Community Engagement

UNCW is committed to uplifting our faculty, staff, students and community partners. We support a thriving future for southeastern North Carolina, our surrounding region, nation and the world.

Applied Learning and High Impact Practices The Office of High Impact Pathways (OHIP) collaborates with academic and student service units to support the development, celebration, and assessment of high impact learning and engagement experiences at UNCW. Explore opportunities
Student Community Engagement (SCE) Seahawks care. Seahawks give. Seahawks serve. Our goal is to provide students with a range of opportunities to learn, grow, and engage. More About SCE
Give Pulse Give Pulse is a community engagement platform that manages service hours and connects students, staff, and faculty with community partners in Wilmington and beyond. Browse Opportunities
QENO Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO) helps strengthen nonprofit organizations in southeastern North Carolina through leadership and organizational development and providing connections to UNCW faculty and students. Get connected
Arts UNCW’s Office of the Arts provides entertaining, inspirational, cultural programming for campus and community audiences through the Kenan Auditorium Presents series and collaborations with the university’s five academic arts departments and community partners. Get season info and tickets

Ecosystem

Our community engagement ecosystem guides our mission of engaging with and serving the local community. The functions within the ecosystem are: Community Partnerships, Community Engaged Pedagogy, and Community Service. These functions positively influence scholarship, student success, and the reciprocity between UNCW and its community partners. 

  • Partnerships

    Community-engaged partnerships refer to mutually beneficial collaborations between UNCW and the broader community. These partnerships involve the sharing of knowledge, resources, and expertise to address community-identified needs and goals. UNCW's community engaged partnerships may take various forms, such as research partnerships, service-learning initiatives, and volunteer programs. These partnerships involve active participation and collaboration between UNCW faculty, staff, and students, and community members, organizations, and institutions. The goal of community engaged partnerships with UNCW is to build sustainable relationships, foster social responsibility, and promote positive social change in the local community and beyond.

  • Community-engaged pedagogy at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) refers to an educational approach that actively involves students, faculty, and community members in collaborative, reciprocal partnerships. It integrates community-based experiences into the curriculum and promotes the exchange of knowledge and resources between the university and the broader community. Community-engaged pedagogy at UNCW emphasizes the importance of experiential learning, critical reflection, and social justice, while also addressing community-identified needs and goals. This approach provides opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience, develop civic responsibility, and enhance their understanding of complex social issues. Ultimately, community-engaged pedagogy at UNCW aims to foster mutually beneficial relationships between the university and the community, while also promoting positive social change. 

  • Community service at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) refers to the voluntary work done by faculty, staff, and students to benefit the local community or society. It is a way for UNCW to engage with the community, build relationships, and give back. Faculty can engage in community service through research projects, outreach, and service-learning opportunities. Staff can volunteer for local events, fundraising, and community engagement initiatives. Students can participate in service-learning courses, join clubs, and volunteer at local non-profit organizations. Community service at UNCW provides opportunities to develop leadership skills, make a positive impact, and enhance the academic experience by applying classroom knowledge to real-world problems.