Drexel University’s vision as a comprehensive and progressive university with a deep commitment to civic engagement comes to life through the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement. The Lindy Center plays a crucial role in fulfilling the University’s goals of becoming the most civically engaged university in the country and improving the lives of those living in the University City community.

The core focus of the center encompasses four interconnected concepts: community-based learning, student civic leadership, community partnerships, and volunteerism. The center’s programming is intentionally aligned with the strategic goals of the University.

The center promotes the ideals of social responsibility and public service by facilitating community-based experiential learning for students, faculty and professional staff. Through collaborations with the community, and in support of the University’s strategic plan, the Center improves the public good on the local, national and global levels while enriching the scholarship and character of Drexel through enhanced education.

Today, the center provides more than 150 unique civic engagement opportunities annually, directs a number of student leadership programs, and supports community-based learning through courses and faculty research projects.

• CIVC 101

  CIVC 101 is a First-Year Civic Engagement Course designed to help students develop skills as active participants in a pluralistic, democratic society through direct service, education, and reflection opportunities. This one-credit course covers key concepts and frameworks for understanding civic engagement, including models of civic life through America's history; critiques of philanthropy, volunteerism, community service, public service and political activism; university-community relations; and public service leadership.

• LINDY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

  The Lindy Scholars Program matches 75 Drexel students with 225 middle school students in sixth through eigth grade for after-school tutoring and mentoring sessions with the goal of enhancing their education and helping them realize their full potential. The program engages parents through family workshops and supports teachers through professional development activities. The Lindy Center collaborates with Drexel’s School of Education and the Alain Locke, Martha Washington, and Morton McMichael schools in West Philadelphia.

• CERTIFICATE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

  The Lindy Center offers a Certificate in Civic Engagement to provide Drexel students with the intellectual grounding to be active participants on issues of public concern in their communities. Drexel is one of a small but growing number of colleges and universities across the country to establish an academic civic engagement program. Students pursuing the certificate will take courses in active citizenship, university-community partnerships and civic engagement leadership, among other innovative topics.

• STUDENT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

  The Lindy Center aims to provide students with the opportunity to participate in an intensive path of learning through service, leadership and community engagement. These opportunities move beyond one-time volunteer experiences, and require a higher level of commitment and leadership.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LINDY CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT