Service is one of the three core values that support SUNY Oneonta’s mission and vision. We are committed to making a difference in the lives of those in our campus community, the greater Oneonta community and the world around us.
Service-Learning
At SUNY Oneonta, we emphasize experiential learning through service-learning, which blends meaningful community service with classroom instruction and reflection. This approach deepens academic understanding, fosters civic responsibility and connects coursework to real-world issues.
Service-learning courses are incorporated into a variety of academic disciplines, from Elementary Education, Psychology and Dietetics to Fashion and Textiles, Communication Studies and Environmental Sustainability. Graduate programs with a service-learning focus include Educational Technology and Museum Studies, giving students across disciplines the chance to make a difference while earning their degrees.
Some of the most impactful service-learning opportunities take place beyond campus. Short-term faculty-led programs, usually offered during the summer, combine local or global service with academic credit.
Center for Volunteerism and Community Engagement
Our Center for Volunteerism and Community Engagement offers service opportunities for students of all backgrounds and experience levels. Whether you’re helping at a soup kitchen, mentoring youth, or supporting an arts nonprofit, you’ll help build stronger communities and gain valuable experience along the way.
Our students average 45,000 service hours annually, including 6,000 hours completed by student-athletes, across 98 nonprofits in Otsego County—providing a $1.6 million value.
The CVCE can connect you to our many service-learning courses and organizes several annual events and community partnerships, including:
- First-Year Service Day
- An annual conference on volunteering and social responsibility
- Canstruction
- Into the Streets
- Soup kitchens
- Community Arts Network of Oneonta
- Club Odyssey
- Assisted Living Facilities
- YMCA
- Monthly blood drives
- Community Leaf Raking
- The Giving Tree
- Youth Sports Clinics
- Adaptive Sports Days
- Thanksgiving Baskets
Empire State Service Corps
At SUNY Oneonta, service-learning also comes to life through the Empire State Service Corps, a statewide initiative that offers paid, hands-on opportunities for students to make a difference while deepening their academic experience.
This program reflects our broader commitment to pairing experiential learning and community engagement. During the 2024-2025 academic year—the inaugural year of the program—SUNY Oneonta led all SUNY campuses in participation, with 50 students contributing 300 hours of community service at 32 sites on and off campus.
Office of Sustainability
SUNY Oneonta’s Office of Sustainability offers service-learning opportunities that let you grow personally and professionally while creating a lasting impact. From volunteering to internships, you’ll get involved in hands-on projects that benefit both campus and community, while gaining valuable experience along the way.
Through programs like EcoReps, you can help lead recycling efforts, support the on-campus thrift shop and take part in monthly initiatives that promote a more sustainable lifestyle. These roles often count toward volunteer hours, LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) credit and can even open the door to paid internships.
Interns with the Office of Sustainability engage in service like conducting food waste audits on campus, coordinating Green Room Certifications or hosting environmental justice events. It’s a chance to apply what you’re learning in class to projects that matter. Whether you're just getting started or already passionate about sustainability, you’ll be given the tools to make a difference on campus and beyond.
Civic-Minded Student Clubs
Many student clubs and organizations at SUNY Oneonta make community service a central part of their mission, offering students a chance to create change while building leadership and teamwork skills.
Greek organizations are especially active, volunteering at local soup kitchens, supporting youth programs and raising funds for causes such as play therapy and cancer research. Some host community events, such as spike ball tournaments and Halloween celebrations for local children.
Several student groups are dedicated solely to charitable efforts:
- The Gift of Life Club works to find bone marrow matches for patients in need
- Hippies for Hope supports children locally and abroad
- One Love and Oneonta Fights Cancer focus on raising funds and awareness for notable causes
The Activities Council contributes by using proceeds from campus concerts to support the Giving Tree holiday initiative. And the Oneonta State Emergency Squad, run entirely by students, has provided essential medical services on campus for more than 30 years.
