UMW Impact Program

Find Community. Make an Impact.

UMW’s Impact Program is an experiential learning program for first-year students focused on service and community engagement. Impact students build unique skills, networks, and knowledge through service, volunteer work, and community & civic engagement. The Impact Program supports student learning through engaging with our Fredericksburg community, a specialized curriculum, and co-curricular activities. Students who participate in the Impact Program develop leadership skills, learn about career pathways, and create a supportive community. Students in the Impact Program also receive Certificate of Completion and a $500 credit in their first year at UMW. We encourage students that complete the Impact Program to apply for leadership positions in UMW’s other service and community engagement programs.

Find Your People, Find Your Strengths

You should consider the Impact Program if you are looking for a place to build a community, challenge yourself, and make a difference in the world. The Impact Program provides important experiential learning opportunities that enhance classroom learning and make a positive difference in our broader Fredericksburg region. During the your participation in the program, you will be learning and volunteering alongside your peers. You will be building a community of students interested in positive change. This is a great opportunity for students to work one-on-one with faculty and community leaders.

We hope that the relationships you build through the Impact Program will guide you to achieve your goals, develop your leadership skills, and make an impact. Most importantly, we hope that the program will allow you to build lasting bonds with your peers and staff. These are the people who will be supporting you and guiding you through this shared experience.

Who is Eligible for the Impact Program?

Any incoming first-year student interested in gaining skills to make a difference in the world and developing your understanding of positive community change is eligible. Only students that have applied and offered admission to UMW will be considered for the Impact Program. 

How to Apply

This program is open to all majors and requires no prior experience or knowledge.  Applications for this program are now closed, and will open for next year in January 2025.  Remember to apply early, there are only 30 spots in the program and they may fill. Questions? Contact us at impact@umw.edu. 

What Will My Freshman Year Look Like?

Fall Semester: 

1. Community & Civic Engagement Activities – You will volunteer alongside UMW students with a range of activities:

1. 1. • COAR: Community Outreach and Resources (COAR), a student-run service program, offers several volunteer opportunities each month.
      • UMW Votes: Build your civic engagement skills and learn about the voting process by helping educate, register, and mobilize student voters. 
      • Alternative Service Breaks: Travel to another state and work with Habitat for Humanity to help build and repair homes during the spring semester. 

2. Joint Classes – Impact students are enrolled in a 1-credit class titled “Doing the Work Together”:

• • • Meet community leaders
    • Learn about local nonprofit organizations that help our Fredericksburg community
    • Reflect on your community service

3. Group activities: You and other members of the Impact Program will be invited to a range of group activities. 

Spring Semester:

1. 

   Joint Classes – Impact students are enrolled in a 1-credit class titled “Be the Change”:

   • Learn about the nonprofit sector
   • Explore paths for positive social change
   • Earn your General Education credit for “Beyond the Classroom”
   • Refine your goals related to service and community engagement

1. Choose a Community Engagement Path – Students can choose a path for second semester: 
   • Leadership: Leadership in engagement – students can apply for an internship or position with COAR/COAR council, Alternative Service Breaks, UMW Votes, or a community service club; or
   • Volunteering: Students can participate in regular community engagement or service work through programs like COAR or service clubs.  

3. Co-Curricular Activities: Students will be invited to attend monthly meetings related to community engagement work. Students can pick which to attend, and these sessions include: 

• • 

    COAR: Students will be invited to the COAR Interest Meeting and monthly COAR events to learn about COAR Council programs.

  • James Farmer Multicultural Center: Students will be encouraged to attend programming provided by the James Farmer Multicultural Center as part of their Cultural Awareness Series and MLK Day of Service.

• • Social Justice Leadership Summit: Students will be invited to attend the Social Justice Leadership to participate in a day of workshops and lectures related to social justice. 

• • Alternative Service Break: Students will be invited to participate in an Alternative Service Break trip. 

Requirements of the Impact Program

• Apply and be accepted into the Impact Program
• Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
• Participate in the required activities and classes
• Complete at least 15 hours of community-engaged activities
  • Students should fulfill this requirement over the first year through volunteer work, service, and/or civic engagement.

How does the $500 Credit Work?

Students in the Impact Program will receive a $250 credit on their account during the second week of classes in the fall. They will receive a second $250 credit on their account during the second week of classes in the spring.

Awards and Recognition

Upon Completion of the Program students will…

• Will receive a Certificate of Completion for the program
• Become eligible to apply for the Service Cord upon graduation
  • The service cord is awarded to students who volunteer at least 30 hours during their time at UMW
• …and if they meet eligibility requirements, the student will be nominated to receive the President’s Service Leadership Award

Questions? 

Feel free to contact us at impact@umw.edu. Or follow us on social media:

• Center for Community Engagement – @cceumw
  

  

• COAR  – @umwcoar