Student Engagement

Our programs help engage students with communities in working toward a greater purpose. We support and empower students to engage with their diverse communities in thoughtful and meaningful ways, and to build their commitment to the public good.
We’ll support your learning in action for the common good through programming and relationships that enhance civic learning and participation, educational partnerships in service to communities, and community-connected teaching, learning, and research.
Academic Connections
-
Privilege & Poverty (P&P) Academic Cluster
The P&P Academic Cluster integrates coursework with experiential learning to critically examine economic inequality.
-
Community Connected Learning course
In this course, students will apply their relevant coursework to place-based contexts by collaborating with community partners.
Co-curricular Connections
-
Community Engagement Organizations (CEOs)
The Center for Community Engagement advises and supports 20 student organizations and continuing initiatives.
-
Middlebury Alternative Break Trips (MAlt)
MAlt engages Middlebury students with communities across the nation and the globe during a weeklong trip over February break.
-
Language in Motion
LiM connects Middlebury’s international, study abroad, and upper level language students with K-12 teachers and students.
-
Democracy Initiatives
We mobilize students to be active participants and ready stewards of democracy through education, access and organizing.
-
Volunteering
Don't see what you're passionate about or want to make your own opportunity? We're here for that as well!
Summer Opportunities
-
History in Translation 2022
This project will bring together undergraduates from Midd and ICU for an experiential exploration of Executive Order 9066.
-
Privilege & Poverty Internships
The Privilege & Poverty Academic Cluster offers summer internship opportunities locally in Addison County and nationally.
-
Japan Summer Service-Learning program (JSSL)
JSSL is a collaborative, intercultural service-learning program that brings together Midd students and ICU students in Japan.
-
Jiran: The Arabic Community Action Summer
Jiran (جيران) is a summer language program that pairs Arabic students with underserved Arabic-speaking families in Connecticut.
-
Community Engagement at the Language Schools (CE@LS)
CE@LS is an internship for bilingual Middlebury undergraduates to facilitate community-connected projects at Language Schools.
Funding
-
Mini grants
This mini-grant program is for student initiatives involving community action (academic year only).
-
Academic Outreach Endowment (AOE) grants
AOE grants support community-connected teaching, learning, and research across all disciplines (rolling deadline).
-
Cross-Cultural Community Engagement (CCCE) grants
The CCCE Fund supports international community service, advocacy, and activism (year-round funding available).
Student Leadership
-
Civic Leadership Certificate
The Civic Leadership Certificate supports emerging leaders to intentionally develop their leadership and civic knowledge.
-
Public Service Leadership Awards (PSLAs)
The PSLAs honor students and community partners for their service & leadership in public and community affairs.
Hear from students!

Sarah Kavoogian ’20 and Brian Ketchabaw ’20
Middlebury College Access Mentors (MiddCAM)
Sarah and Brian believe that each student deserves equal access to higher education. This belief spurred them to become MiddCAM mentors, and later, MiddCAM co-presidents. In leading the growth of the program to 25 mentor-mentee matches, Sarah’s and Brian’s primary goal has always remained the same: increase the program’s reach to those who might benefit most, such as students who will be the first in their family to attend college.
“We have enjoyed everything that has come with MiddCAM. This year has definitely proven to be incredibly rewarding for both of us. Not only did we reach out goals, but we also met some incredible students—both at Middlebury College and Middlebury Union High School—along the way. We cannot wait to see MiddCAM continue to grow over the next couple of years!”

Zeke Hodkin ’21.5
Privilege & Poverty, MiddVOTE
Zeke is a community leader through and through. Part of the Middlebury Reslife team and a critical member of MiddVote, our college voting turnout organization, he is one of the many students behind-the-scenes who makes our college community vibrant and engaged.
As a P&P scholar, Zeke explores the intersections of politics, religion, and power through his intended joint major in Political Science and Religion. By experiencing the local dimensions of community both on and off campus, the P&P program brings in an aspect of scale (both micro and macro) that has enriched his experience at Middlebury.

Patrick Kuruga Wachira ’23
Community Friends, Page One Literacy Project, Language in Motion, MAlt
Patrick’s journey with the CCE started right with his first week on campus through his MiddView trip: Working Together to Effect Change. “I learned about Community Friends through my trip leader and I knew as soon as I heard about it that I would want to be a part of it.” Since then, he has joined Community Friends as well as other CCE programs such as Language in Motion, Malt Trips and Page One Literacy Project.
“What I find most appealing to me about these programs is the opportunity to interact with people from the Middlebury community and beyond, particularly children and to spearhead and witness the wonderful results of celebrating diversity and increasing intercultural awareness.”

Martin Troska ’21
Language in Motion (LiM)
Martin is deeply passionate about education because he believes that it is the most powerful tool for change. This drove him to join LiM during his first year at Middlebury, and he has been actively involved ever since. His favorite experience with LiM is the Fall Break Mini-MAlt trip through which he enjoys spending time with other LiM presenters and local Barre Spaulding High School students not only through presentations, but also cooking together, playing games, and going for walks in nature. Through these experiences, he feels more connected to the Vermont community.
“LiM enabled me to connect with the local Vermont students and teachers as well as to practice inclusive teaching skills.”

Maddie McKean ’21
Community Friends
Maddie has embraced her role as one of the 140 Community Friends mentors since her first year. Now, she serves as the student organization’s lead student coordinator, helping mentors connect with Addison County school counselors, families, and children by supporting training, coordinating recruitment and matching of new mentoring pairs, and still meeting regularly with her mentee.
“My favorite part about hanging out with Emma (my mentee) has been watching her grow up over this past year. Now that she is twelve and in seventh grade, I feel like she is also mentoring me.”

Chloe Zinn ’22 and Julia Fairbank ’23
DREAM
Chloe and Julia spend time each week developing fun, meaningful group activities for college mentors and local elementary school children to enjoy together. The intentional spaces they create are the foundation on which DREAM mentors and mentees build trusting relationships and confidence. A few of their favorite activities this year? Going to a trampoline park, creating a beach day in the middle of January, and making snow cones!
“My favorite part of DREAM is getting to be silly with the kids! Kids are so fun to hang out with, and I’m lucky I get to be reminded of the simplicity and fun in life every single week.” - Chloe

“At DREAM, I love being able to watch my classmates and the kids let their guards down and form real, stable relationships. Both parties rely on each other in a really awesome way.” - Julia

Cynthia Ramos ’21
Privilege & Poverty (P&P)
Cynthia is one of P&P’s veteran members. Majoring in International and Global Studies with a focus on East Asia, she has nevertheless found no difficulty grounding her global academic focus in the local community. This past summer she interned at the Charter House, a non-profit, volunteer based organization that provides basic necessities like food and shelter.
Working and living at the Charter House gave her an unparalleled community experience just a fraction of a mile away from Middlebury college. The P&P cluster has enabled her to weave together emotional and academic work into one learning experience.
Get Connected
We advise and support more than 20 student service organizations, and can connect you to a range of opportunities in the larger community.
-
Find volunteer opportunities with local and worldwide partner organizations.
-
Learn about up-to-date service learning opportunities through our weekly newsletter.
Selected student service organization leaders also have the opportunity to join a cohort of learners through our Civic Leadership Certificate program.
Read about recent civic leadership opportunities.
News and Events
Check out our newsroom and blog for updates on what our students, faculty, staff and community partners have been up to.
Read about recent events hosted by the CCE. We’ll host more in the future- keep an eye out!
Don’t forget to check out our Public Service Leadership Awards, which honors our students’ service and leadership in the community each spring.