Student Leadership

Suffolk University offers leadership opportunities for students who want to get involved in their community. Leadership roles include organizing ongoing local community service projects, developing relationships with Greater Boston non-profit organizations, and supporting service learning projects.

A great way to get involved and make a bigger commitment to community service is to take on a leadership position in the Center for Community Engagement.

There are a variety of positions available throughout the year, so take the initiative to become an advocate of change in the community by becoming a Center for Community Engagement student leader.

Service Scholars

Center for Community Engagement Service Scholarship

Students selected for this scholarship program are required to work 300 hours to support University sponsored service programs. Recipients are selected by a committee on the basis of community service involvement and merit. Only rising full-time second-year, third-year and fourth-year students, who have been enrolled at Suffolk University Boston full-time at least one year prior to applying, are eligible.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The award amount is $5,000 per academic year; $3,000 is posted as a grant to the student's tuition account and $2,000 is awarded as employment, which is paid on a bi-weekly basis for hours worked. The selection process takes place in the spring for the following academic year.

Graduate Fellows

The Center for Community Engagement offers two separate graduate fellow positions. The award amount is $13,400 per academic year; $7,200 is posted as a grant to the student's tuition account and $6,200 is awarded as employment, which is paid on a bi-weekly basis for hours worked. Students earn their money during the academic year beginning no earlier than the first day of classes in September and ending the last day of the spring semester. The selection process takes place in the spring for the following academic year.

The Graduate Fellow for Community Service and Service Learning supports the service learning program including the coordination of the Service Learning Faculty Assistant (SLFA) program. This fellow works in conjunction with the Director of Service Learning to develop and maintain community partnerships, and interacts with students, faculty and staff.

The Graduate Fellow for Community Service and College Access is responsible for social justice education and assessment, Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip support and training, and college access programs. Additionally, this fellow oversees the partnership with the Eliot K-8 Boston Public School.

Dedicated students who have a passion for social justice and service are encouraged to apply for community service on-campus and off-campus work-study opportunities.

Center for Community Engagement Office Assistants

Each academic year, 8-10 undergraduate students who have Federal Work Study (FWS) awards are offered positions as center office assistants. These students help with daily tasks that are required to carry out the center’s mission to engage the Suffolk University community in meaningful service work. Various roles are assigned to the students including, but not limited to, answering phones and responding to inquiries, making copies, posting promotional materials, tabling for service events, or writing articles for the bi-monthly newsletter.

To apply to be a center office assistant, please submit your application [PDF] to the Center for Community Engagement.

Off-campus Opportunities

Suffolk students with a FWS award may also choose to use the award to work off campus at eligible public or 501(c)(3) organizations that provide jobs to serve the public interest and improve the quality of life for the community.

What are the benefits of having a Federal Work-Study community service off-campus job?

  • Learn more about your community
  • Help improve the quality of life for members of your community
  • Gain valuable skills and work experience in the non-profit sector
  • Earn your Federal Work-Study funds

Project Leaders

Project leaders are responsible for leading groups of volunteers to our many service opportunities. In spite of full course loads and busy schedules, these students take the initiative to spread awareness and perform outreach in the community.

Project leaders are typically assigned to a regular, ongoing service opportunity and are responsible for keeping track of student volunteer sign-in and release forms, leading volunteers to project sites, tracking volunteer hours, conducting reflection activities, and ensuring quality and safety throughout the program.

Volunteers can also serve as 'on-call' project leaders who lead volunteer groups for one-time service events. The Center for Community Engagement often responds to community organizations' one-time volunteer needs and we like to have a dedicated group of students to lead these events.

If you are interested in becoming a project leader, please contact the Center for Community Engagement.

Service Learning Faculty Assistants

Service learning faculty assistants (SLFAs) work with a specific faculty member to provide support for service learning projects and are the primary contact for faculty members for the duration of a semester.

Trained and supervised by the center's service learning staff, SLFAs are available to assist faculty members with student orientation, coordination of service placements, administration of paperwork, reflection activities, and ongoing project management and support.