About the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement An Overview

Welcome, and thanks for visiting the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement!

As an institution, AU is committed to advancing social justice and civic responsibility, and we’re at the front lines of that effort. At the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement – or CLCE – we lead the AU community into the world to serve. From projects around DC to trips abroad, we stand with a university dedicated to improving lives in our global community.

We support any member of the AU family trying to become engaged in social issues. Alternative Breaks offer domestic and international field experience to students and staff, while our DC Reads program allows students to improve literacy in Washington, DC. Our Freshman Service Experience pairs hundreds of incoming students with DC’s many nonprofit organizations, connecting these students – through service – with their new home and the issues facing it.

Over 3000 AU undergraduate students volunteer each year, and there’s still more work to be done. If you’re already a member of the AU community, we invite you to help advance our campaign for social justice and civic engagement. If you’re considering AU for your studies, we hope you’ll join us at a university that truly puts ideas into action and action into service.

President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

60,000+ Hours of Community Service

AU Made the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for Five Years in a Row!

Check out these service opportunities:

Service-LearningÌý— courses offered through AU schools and colleges, such as a writing course that addressed school equity issues

D.C. ReadsÌý— an off-campus literacy project aimed at improving the reading level of children in grades K-8

Alternative BreaksÌý— trips range from service-learning overseas, to domestic trips working with urban youth; students plan the trips each year

Service-Learning at AU

Want to learn how AU students get involved with the DMV community through community-based (AKA service-learning) programs? Click the button below to learn more about how your organization can engage with our students!

Service-Learning Programs

Resources

View and fill out our Capital Needs Assessments to have your Non-Profit matched with available AU resources, including requests for volunteers.

Needs Surveys

GivePulse

GivePulse is a volunteer management system used by AU where Non-Profits can post events, recruit volunteers from multiple universities, and verify service hours. Click below to learn more.

GivePulse Resources