According to the Center for Leadership & Involvement (CfLI), more than 400 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) have a service component.
This year, the Morgridge Center for Public Service is forming new partnerships with 14 of those RSOs in a new initiative to better support and connect with student organizations involved in community-engaged work.
Through the partnership, the Morgridge Center will help RSOs strengthen relationships with communities by better preparing students for community engagement. RSOs will have the opportunity to work closely with Morgridge Center staff, and have access to resources to support their organizational mission.
To qualify for the partnership, the new RSOs had to align with the center’s mission. They also had to demonstrate a desire to form mutually beneficial partnerships with community organizations, and a willingness to participate in training and guidance, such as a three hour “Introduction to Responsible Volunteering Workshop.”
The 14 new RSOs have a wide range of focuses, but all share a focus in service, whether it related to direct service, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, activism, service-learning or government.
The following RSOs will be affiliated with the Morgridge Center this year:
1. Adult Role Models in Science (ARMS)
ARMS is an organization dedicated to the boosting of science literacy in the surrounding K-12 Madison schools and the community. ARMS students volunteer at local elementary schools, middle schools and community centers to cultivate curiosity and present scientific information in exciting ways. As science role models, they teach children how to think like scientists and instill a desire to learn more.
2. Be the Match on Campus
Be The Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping every patient get life-saving transplants for those facing life-threatening blood cancers. Because college-aged bone marrow donors have the highest success rate, the on-campus branch of Be the Match focuses on registering UW–Madison students to donate bone marrow.
3. Community and Nonprofit Leaders (CNPL-UW)
An organization of students within the Community and Nonprofit majors at UW–Madison, CNPL-UW aims to foster a supportive community for CNPL students. The organization focuses on professional development, supplemental education, community building and student advocacy for CNPL students to have the best education possible within the major.
4. Community Health Volunteers of Madison (CHVM)
Community Health Volunteers of Madison has the mission to bring awareness of health disparities that affect the greater Madison area, to understand the medical, social, political, and economic aspects of health, and to work with underserved populations with the goal of improving health outcomes.
5. Diverse-OT
Diverse-OT is dedicated to advancing the cultural climate within the UW–Madison Occupational Therapy program and the greater UW campus. They provide opportunities for discussion and education on diversity and inclusion, pathways for marginalized students into the program, and foster a strong community of occupational therapy students knowledgeable about the experiences of underrepresented peoples. Diverse-OT aims to support recruitment of underrepresented peoples into OT programs, seek out guest speakers and integrate cultural humility into the OT student experience.
6. Food Recovery Network at Madison
Food Recovery Network’s mission is to foster values of sustainability on campus and in the community. Through recovering extra food in the dining halls and bringing it to community outlets, FRN reduces food waste and addresses food insecurity. They hope to raise awareness of food waste and educate on how individuals can work to conserve food. Currently, they have already recovered 7,000 pounds of food.
7. Latinx Student Union
The Latinx Student Union (LSU) aims to bring together all UW–Madison students who want to build a community for Latinx-identifying students. As educators and advocates, they work to inform peers, faculty and staff on what the Latinx community needs to be successful. LSU hopes to provide resources, spaces and serve as a support group for all Latinx students of UW–Madison.
8. Music Therapy Association
Music Therapy Association-UW–Madison aims to connect with local music therapists, inform group members about music therapy, and volunteer in music therapy related activities in various community settings. Involved students organize and participate in musical performances at daycares, hospitals, nursing homes and specialized health clinics to engage with community members through music. Students also meet with professional music therapists to learn about the field.
9. Society of St. Vincent de Paul, UW–Madison
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a worldwide nonprofit organization consisting of 150,000 trained volunteers and 10,000 trained staff in the United States alone. At UW–Madison, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul upholds the goals of the international organization. Through service, they grow in faith while collaborating with and addressing needs of the Madison community.
10. Society of Women Engineers
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) aims to empower women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders and expand the image of technology professions. Through professional development for members and youth outreach, SWE provides a path for women to become highly successful engineers and professionals. They host events such as engineering camps for girls, networking sessions, conferences, community engagement opportunities, industry tours and more.
11. Student Association for engagement, enablement, and enhancement (SAFEEE)
The purpose of SAFEEE is engage with the local Madison community, enhance community environment and enable positive relationships between UW–Madison students and the Madison community. Through community engagement, SAFEEE hopes that students will gain insight about their roles and contributions in the community.
12. Survivor’s Best Friend – UW Madison Chapter
Survivor’s Best Friend (SBF) is a national nonprofit that unites survivors of sexual assault and/or domestic violence with a shelter animal of their choice, free of charge. SBF pays for all adoption-related fees and expenses for adopted animals and also funds costs for pets to become Emotional Support Animals. As a campus chapter, students involved advocate for shelter animals, sexual assault and domestic violence survivors and mental health.
13. Women in Scientific Education and Research (WISER)
Women in Scientific Education and Research (WISER) works to promote female presence in all areas of research. Members form a community that fosters relationships between undergraduate students and female researchers/professors at UW–Madison. The organization also offers networking, workshops and scholarship opportunities to its members.
14. The Zeta Xi Core Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Originally formed in 1913 by women at Howard University, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc is a nonprofit organization of college-educated women committed to constructive development of its members and to public service focusing on the Black community. As the local UW-Madison chapter, the Zeta Xi Core Chapter has served the Madison community since 1969. Their service projects focus on economic development, educational development, political awareness and involvement, physical and mental health and international awareness and involvement.