Beyond-the-Classroom
Community-Engaged Learning
in beyond-the-classroom learning experiences
Alternative Spartan Breaks
In 2024-2025, Michigan State University's Alternative Spartan Breaks (ASB) program brought together 159 students who dedicated their time, energy, and passion to service experiences that tackled real-world challenges and strengthened communities—locally, nationally, and globally.
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Spartan Days of Service
In partnership with the MSU Alumni Office, CCEL hosts Spartan Days of Service throughout the year as one-day opportunities to volunteer alongside community partners. The 2024-2025 academic year kicked off with the Fall Spartan Day of Service on October 5 in collaboration with 12 host sites—10 in Greater Lansing and two in Detroit. CCEL placed 325 student volunteers who worked a total of 1,950 hours for a $61,600 financial impact in the community.
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Pre-Health Volunteering at McLaren Greater Lansing
This year, more MSU students than ever got involved in hands-on learning at McLaren Greater Lansing. The pre-health volunteer program saw a 21% jump in participation from last year, and students logged over 3,180 hours of service—up from 2,399 the year before.
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Spartan Volunteer Corps
The new Spartan Volunteer Corps (SVC) brings together students on service projects centered on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program was piloted by CCEL Assistant Director K.C. Keyton during the 2024-2025 academic year.
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MSU Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
The Michigan State University Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program exemplifies the power of community-engaged learning. During the 2024-2025 tax season, 52 MSU students became certified IRS tax preparers and contributed over 926 hours of service, offering free tax preparation to individuals and families across the region.
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