What are the benefits of volunteering?
Provides experiential opportunities to reinforce classroom learning.
Intrinsic reward of providing service and making a difference in the community.
Develop real world experience and skills employers are looking for.
- Practical Experience
- Teamwork
- Computer skills
- Communication skills
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving skills
- Networking opportunities|
- Civic responsibility
- Public speaking skills
Through your volunteer efforts you choose to make the world a better place for all by giving your time, while at the same time, gaining valuable experience and skills.
Whether you prefer one-time events or regular, on-going options, working by yourself, or in a group, the Center for Student Engagement offers regular opportunities to get involved with the wider community. Examples include, but are not limited to: tutoring, mentoring, collecting food/other needed items or special events such as...
Local Volunteer Resources:
Did you know that you can use free or low-cost public transportation to volunteer in the Mid-Hudson Valley Region? UCWays will show you how! The Center for Student Engagement in partnership with UlsterCorps has launched a website to assist SUNY New Paltz students with utilizing the UCAT bus system to volunteer in the Mid-Hudson Valley, NY region! This website currently provides contact information, bus schedules, and directions for approximately 70 sites in a user- and mobile-friendly format.
Check out the New Paltz Volunteers blog to view current and past volunteer opportunities from the New Paltz Volunteers email.
UlsterCorps is the best source for volunteer opportunities in Ulster County!
Some ways to learn about volunteer opportunities and to get involved include:
New Paltz Volunteers
A number of SUNY New Paltz's community partners need volunteers on a regular basis as well as for one-time events. This mailing list was created to share these opportunities directly with interested New Paltz students.
To receive information via email about upcoming opportunities, please join the New Paltz Volunteers community on Engage.
Move-in Day Volunteers
Each August, student leaders return to campus early to welcome first-year and transfer students to campus and help them to move in to the residence halls.
Volunteer Fair
Each September, the Center for Student Engagement hosts a Volunteer Fair with approximately 50 local, national, and international organizations offering volunteer experiences to SUNY New Paltz students. Check the website for event date and details.
Make a Difference Day
Each October, the Center for Student engagement hosts Make a Difference Day, the largest national day of doing good! Volunteers spend the day at one of approximately 30 service sites in the Mid-Hudson Valley region, meeting new people, making a difference, and having fun!
Saturdays of Service
Saturdays of Service (SoS) provides selected students with an opportunity to help the Mid-Hudson Valley community during the semester (3 Saturdays) by volunteering around a selected theme. Past themes have included Sustainable Agriculture, Food Insecurity, Housing and Homelessness, Educating Children, and Environmental Sustainability. Applications are available each September (Fall) and November (Spring).
Alternative Spring Break New Paltz: Give Where You Live
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) provides students with an opportunity to help the New Paltz community over their spring break in a FUN and meaningful way. This week-long initiative gives selected students the opportunity to take part in a number of volunteer, social, and educational activities to help make the community a better place. Application is available each November.
New Paltz Clean Sweep
Clean Sweep is a great way to help make the community sparkle by giving it a fresh spring cleaning. The event is held late each April; volunteers don gloves, grab trash bags, and join area business owners, residents, local politicians, community organizations, and schools to tidy up the parks, sidewalks and streets of New Paltz.
First-Year Internship Program (hosted by the Career Resource Center)
First-year students (non-transfers) have the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience with SUNY New Paltz alumni in a variety of on-campus departments during the spring semester of their freshman year. Each one offers a substantive project with explicit learning and skill-development goals along with guidance and support from a dedicated staff or faculty member who is an alumnus or alumna of SUNY New Paltz. Applications and internship descriptions are available each October from the Career Resource Center.
