Service Learning

Alternative Week of Off-Campus Learning (AWOL) is a co-curricular program that sponsors opportunities for service learning including alternative breaks during the university's winter, spring and summer breaks, as well as, monthly alternative weekends during the academic year.

AWOL Trips, Dates & Information

Breaks and Weekends with Purpose

Make your weekends and breaks meaningful and memorable by learning more about pressing social issues such as education, sustainability, community development, or healthcare at a location around South Dakota, the country, or abroad.

AWOL alternative break participants travel locally, nationally and internationally in groups of 8-15 students to collaborate with communities on projects and gain new perspectives on social issues while meeting community needs. Alternative breaks include five weeks of pre-departure training to get to know your group and begin exploring the social issue through educational curriculum. While on site, participants learn through hands-on engagement in the community and reflection.

The AWOL alternative weekends are monthly events led by USD students either locally in Vermillion or within the region. It's a great way to ease your way into community engagement by going with a friend or roommate to learn more about a social issue, local organizations and how they engage communities.

Serve & Learn

AWOL Serve and Learn is a unique opportunity offered exclusively to incoming first-year students. Participants have the opportunity to move in to their rooms early and learn more about USD and the Vermillion area from upper-class students who hold leadership positions throughout campus. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the non-profit organizations that serve the Vermillion area and how you can get involved in community service while at USD. Participants will also tour campus, find out where their classrooms are and discover things to do in Vermillion.

National Connections

USD's AWOL program is a member of the national Break Away organization.  Through our membership we can connect with other student leaders on campuses across the country in leadership and community engagement opportunities.

For questions, more information or to sign-up, email us at engage@usd.edu.

Here at USD, we celebrate five different National Days of Service. They include:

• 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance
• Make A Difference Day
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
• National Volunteer Week
• Earth Day

We welcome partnerships with community agencies for service learning and civic engagement projects, National Days of Service and other efforts. If you would like to learn about opportunities to collaborate, please contact engage@usd.edu. 

Provide Feedback

We welcome input from our community partners regarding your experiences with service learning and civic engagement projects. 
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