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 Events, Dates, Registration and Travel 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.

New Yotes Community Engagement (NYCE) 

AWOL New Yotes Community Engagement (NYCE)  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.

Dakotathon is a yearlong fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network that all culminates with a 12 hour dance marathon in April. At this marathon, we invite Miracle Children from around the region to come spend the entire time with us learning a dance, playing games, listening to concerts, magicians, and hypnotists, eating a bunch of food and much more! The point of the event it to show the Miracle Children the time of their lives away from their normal routine of clinical visits and checkups of that sort.

The organization part of Dakotathon deals with the Executive Team planning and organizing fundraisers both on and off campus throughout the year – those who sign up to participate in the Marathon are asked and encouraged to attend all these fundraisers. Additionally, those who sign up are asked to raise a personal fundraising goal of $200.

Last year Dakotathon had over 533 students participate and raised over $109,000! 

Learn More

Here at USD, we celebrate multiple National Days of Service. What to expect for the 2023/2024 academic year:

• 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance 
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 
• National Volunteer Month (April)
• Earth Day

National Days of Service are celebratory, service themed events that help to bring everyone together. Students, faculty, staff and community unite for one cause. Event dates, schedules and more information about each event will be posted as they become available.

USD SERVE (Students Enhancing Resources for Vermillion Enrichment) is a student-led organization at the University of South Dakota focused on enriching our surrounding community of Vermillion. We pride ourselves on our goal of supporting the educational mission of USD by providing service-based learning opportunities to students as well as creating an environment which advocates the importance of community service and helping others.

SERVE's branches include: Adopt A Grandparent, Adopt A School, Big Pal Little Pal, Bridges, Heroes, Variations of Volunteering, and Food Recovery Network. No matter what branch you decide to volunteer with, or how much time you want to contribute, SERVE has something for everyone!

Learn More

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. 

Community Partners

• Vermillion Community Connection Center
• Vermillion Community Garden
• Habitat for Humanity Clay and Yankton Counties
• Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library
• Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company

Provide Feedback

We welcome input from our community partners regarding your experiences with service learning and civic engagement projects. Please reach out to engage@usd.edu with any feedback you may have.

As one of USD’s sustainability initiatives, Decamp Donations allows students to participate in an annual program that provides convenient donation stations, USD students in need with essential items and a solution to reducing contributions to the local landfill. There are 8 donation locations, strategically located for both on and off campus USD students. Students can donate everything from gently used clothing to furniture and household items. In addition, the program creates numerous volunteering opportunities to help satisfy service hour requirements. For questions about the Decamp Donation program, donatable items or volunteering opportunities, please contact our office at engage@usd.edu.