Civic Scholars Program
Grow Your Civic Knowledge and Skills. Join the Civic Scholars Program
What is Civic Scholars?
NECC is committed to graduating students who are active, informed citizens. Civic Scholars provides a track for students who want to explore and grow their civic knowledge and skills. Students can earn points for taking academic classes, attending campus events, volunteering, and much more. As part of the program, each student will complete a service project, fellowship or internship with a civic focus. When students complete all elements of the program, they will be designated a NECC Civic Scholar.
Why Join?
- Cultivate your civic learning, essential to becoming a responsible citizen.
- Develop critical thinking skills regarding community issues.
- Cultivate problem solving skills needed to affect change.
- Explore career options through volunteerism and Service-Learning.
- Enhance your scholarship, resume, and transfer applications.
- Engage with civic leaders both on and off campus.
- Receive updates of trainings, scholarships, and fellowships for civically engaged students.
Upon completion of the program, you will receive the following recognition:
- NECC Civic Scholar will be designated on your transcript.
- Receive a special cord to wear at graduation.
- Included in NECC’s Annual Awards Convocation.
How Does the Program Work?
The program is completed once 100 points have been earned through a variety of academic and non-academic activities. Please review the ways you can earn points below.
How to Earn Points
How do I earn 100 points and become a NECC Civic Scholar?
Earn 25 points by completing one of the following:
- Civic and/or Service Project
- Civic Engagement or Social Justice Internship
For more details contact the Coordinator or if enrolled in the Civic Scholars Program, consult the Blackboard page.
Earn 75 points from any combination of the below activities:
1 point each:
One hour of volunteer service. (max 50 points)
5 points each:
- Attend civic engagement, social justice, or civic learning event (i.e. civic oriented field trip);
- Attend a leadership, civic engagement, civic learning or service-learning conference. (**If the conference is multi-day, 5 points for each day attended.)
- A club meeting with a civic focus;
- A community event with a civic engagement or social justice focus.
10 points each:
- Vote in a national, state, municipal election or town meeting.
- Complete a session at Career Services that incorporates Civic Scholars into your resume.
- Complete an assignment that incorporates civic learning in a non-civic learning designated course.
- Present at a conference or other public event on a civic learning/engagement topic, such as Student Life Leadership Conference or Speechapalooza.
15 points each:
- Hold a year-long e-Board position in the Student Government Association and/or within a NECC student club.
- Participate for one year in a NECC sponsored leadership program: National Society for Leadership and Success and/or the Knights Lead program
25 points each:
- Pass an officially designated service-learning class with a “C” or better and complete the service-learning component successfully. Courses are listed here for each semester.
- Pass a designated civic learning class with a “C” or better. The current courses include: GOV 101, GOV 102, GOV 211, HIS 101, HIS 102, HIS 253, HIS 255, SOC 101. **If there is another course you believe should be designated civic learning based on the course outcomes and syllabus, please submit the syllabus to the Coordinator for approval.
Most activities require pre-approval, submission of a feedback form, and verification of attendance. If enrolled, consult the Civic Scholars Program Blackboard site for full requirements to earn points.
Does it Cost Anything?
This is free to any enrolled NECC student.
How do I Sign-up?
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Got Questions?
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