Take a Break from Studying and Give Back on Community Service Day

On Friday, July 19, the entire college – including campuses in all five states – will be giving back to the community, and this year, students in the Midwest have the chance to partner up with faculty and staff on their campuses to volunteer their time to a good cause. Campuses have already chosen the volunteer location – now it’s just up to students to donate their time.

“The emphasis [of this activity] is as much on learning as it is on the service they’ll be providing,” said Brooks Doherty, Rasmussen College dean for General Education. “If at all possible, the students should take the time afterward to reflect on what they just did so it’s not just an act, but an opportunity. This will be a hands-on learning experience, opposed to a day where you just volunteered and [moved on].”

The campuses are really hoping to energize students to get more involved.

“The students will be working with us [their campus faculty and staff]. Many students look at faculty and staff as mentors and role models,” said Patty Sagert, Rasmussen College Blaine campus director. “This will give them more of a perspective and a connection with their campus.”

Also, if a student sees another campus volunteering at a place they’d like to volunteer at, they are more than welcome to join that campus.

“Our biggest hope is that they become engaged,” said Debra Bohlman, General Education coordinator in St. Cloud. “The experienceprovides a link between them and the community. We want them to spend time reflecting on it and how it is a benefit them and their community. We want them to have that student experience of volunteering.

If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to your respective campuses.

Here is the list of Midwest campuses and where they'll be volunteering:

Employees from the Rasmussen College Blaine campus will be at Chisago Lakes High School from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. About 30 volunteers are expected to paint and clean the high school.

This year, the Bloomington campus is partnering with Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP). From 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., employees will help the Twin Cities nonprofit stock and organize its shelves.

Employees from the Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove campus will be at two different locations this year. From 12:30 to 4:00 p.m., volunteers will spend time interacting with youth at the Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities’ North and South Minneapolis locations. At the same time, volunteers will pick-up trash along a one-mile stretch of Highway 252 in Brooklyn Park.

The Eagan campus is partnering with 360 Communities this year. Employees will be at the Burnsville Food Shelf from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. sorting donated food items.

Employees from the Lake Elmo/Woodbury campus will participate in a car wash and ice cream social at the Timber Hills Senior Living Center in Inver Grove Heights from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Volunteers will also host a picnic and play games with residents staying at Tubman’s Maplewood location.

In Mankato, campus employees will volunteer at the Relay for Life of Blue Earth County. Employees will work with Adopt-a-Highway and pick-up trash at the corner of Highway 22 and County Road 90, just south of Mankato from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

This year, the St. Cloud campus is partnering with the United Way of Central Minnesota. Employees will be at Opportunity Matters from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. staining a newly built gazebo. Volunteers will also organize the food shelf and paint the laundry room at the local Salvation Army, as well as paint and organize the garage at Central Minnesota Youth for Christ.

In addition, the Fargo campus is volunteering at Churches United and the Bismarck campus will be volunteering at MSA United Way.