Support the Service Learning Institute!

The Service Learning Institute connects classrooms to communities through hands-on learning and civic engagement. Each year, nearly 3,000 students partner with more than 400 local organizations across the tri-county region, contributing more than 81,000 hours of service. These experiences build leadership, foster civic responsibility, and create lasting community impact – reflecting CSUMB’s commitment to inclusive excellence, sustainability, purpose‑driven innovation, and social justice.

The Service Learning Institute hosts two leadership programs: College Corps and the Student Leaders in Service Learning program.

The Student Leadership in Service Learning Program (SL2) is one of the most integral programs of the Service Learning Institute. The SL2 Program plays a vital role in creating peer-to-peer mentorship for CSUMB students engaging in service learning courses. Service Learning Student Leaders support students, faculty, and community partners in connecting concepts within the service learning courses to the service activities performed by students at community partner sites. This helps facilitate the development of a community motivated for social change.

Through these hands-on experiences, SL2 leaders gain invaluable insights that extend beyond the classroom. Over the years, they have had the opportunity to share their expertise and experiences at national and regional conferences, including Continuums of Service, IMPACT, Challenging the Status Quo, North County Women of Color Conference, Empowering Womxn of Color Conference (EWOCC), and the LIFT (Leadership, Innovation, Fellowship, and Transformation) Conference. These leaders bring back knowledge and new perspectives to share in our community.

Another SLI initiative is the College Corps Fellowship program is a partnership between CA Volunteers and AmeriCorps, providing up to $10,000 to high-need and first-generation students in exchange for 450 hours of training and community service. This program aims to increase the affordability of college while developing tangible professional and leadership skills.

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal State Monterey Bay provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal State Monterey Bay complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.