At a University where “everyone majors in changing the world,” Mercerians are encouraged to serve the community through a variety of on-campus involvements, including student organizations, athletic teams, fraternities, sororities, and service-learning courses.
Through involvement in service and civic engagement, students have the opportunity to learn about the community and the role we play in affecting social change. Service and civic engagement experiences offered by the Office of Campus Life include several one-time service projects throughout the year, along with ongoing opportunities to serve in Macon-Bibb through work-study and service-learning tutoring initiatives.
Service and civic engagement aligned with local volunteer needs, keeps students connected to upcoming volunteer opportunities through BearPulse powered by GivePulse.
Changing the World Starts at Home
Public service and preparation for leadership have been at the heart of Mercer’s mission since its founding. Learn about yourself, how to work with others, and make an impact on the community through these opportunities hosted or coordinated by the Office of Campus Life geared around service and civic engagement:
MerServe
MerServe is the student-run service leadership board for the Macon undergraduate campus of Mercer University. MerServe plans, coordinates, and implements a variety of service programs and events, including Service Saturdays, Be a Good NeighBear, Lights on Afterschool, and Spring Break for Service. Connect with MerServe on Facebook and Instagram to discover how you can get involved. If you have questions about upcoming event or joining MerServe, email mercermerserve@gmail.com.
Days of Service & Service Saturday
Coordinated by MerServe, Be a Good NeighBear is a day of service that brings students, faculty, staff and their families together with local outreach organizations. Be a Good NeighBear 2023 saw over 400 students come out to volunteer with over 20 different community partners in the Macon-Bibb area. The 2024 Be a Good NeighBear event is set for Saturday, September 14th.
Spring Break for Service
Spring Break for Service is a local alternative spring break program that began in 2012 and is free for Mercer students to participate in. Spring Break for Service is an immersive experience that aims to expose students to the needs of the Macon area. Students participating in Spring Break for Service are exposed to a wide variety of organizations, including those that focus on hunger and homelessness, youth engagement, and community development.
Mercer Votes
The Mercer Votes, formally known as Mobilize Mercer, is a nonpartisan voting initiative that is focused on raising voter awareness and participation on Mercer's Macon campus. The organization is made up of students, faculty, and staff to support voting initiatives on campus. As champions of Mercer's involvement in SoCon Votes, Mercer Votes coordinates voter registration drives, debate watch parties, and election day celebrations. Learn more about Mercer Voter Coalition's upcoming events on Instagram, checking our website vote.mercer.edu, or by emailing vote@mercer.edu.
In partnership with Campus Votes Project, Mercer Votes has three Democracy Fellow positions for passionate students interested in democratic engagement, politics, and self-starters to assist peers in registering, voting, and fostering discussions on democracy and voting rights legislation. For the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year there are three open positions including, The Communications Director, The Assessment and Research Director, and The Partnerships Director. The positions are filled for this academic year, but interested students can reach out to Margaret Rooyakkers at Rooyakkers_ml@mercer.edu for more information on getting involved in voter engagement efforts on Mercer's Campus.
America Reads/America Counts
The America Reads / America Counts (ARAC) program at Mercer University connects work-study eligible students with partner schools, churches, and non-profit agencies. Mercer students participating in ARAC serve as tutors and provide support to elementary aged students to improve their reading and math skills. ARAC tutors also provide middle school students with the tools and support they need to improve their achievement in mathematics.
Discover Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities on BearPulse
Mercer uses BearPulse to support community engagement for students, faculty, and staff. BearPulse is useful for finding service opportunities, tracking your on-campus and off-campus activities, connecting with community partners, and adding campus and community-based events to the calendar.
To explore upcoming volunteer opportunities, be sure to login to BearPulse with your Mercer credentials.
