Pioneer Service Grant
The Office of Community Engagement at Sacred Heart University advances community-engaged learning and prepares students for lifelong civic engagement and social action.
First-year students are invited to live out this mission by fulfilling the requirements of the Pioneer Service Grant (PSG), which is a $1,000 grant ($500 per semester) awarded to first-year applicants.
Grant recipients fulfill 30 hours of community engagement activity through direct community-engagement in our Bridgeport community over the course of the academic year (recommended 15 hours per semester). This program is structured so that students become involved and rooted in our community, primarily through in-person community engagement. The PSG program builds relationships among our students and the Bridgeport community and helps participants to understand themselves in the larger context of a community. Students, through their community engagement, learn to encounter others as equals and walk with others in mutual regard and compassion.
Students who commute to SHU may also complete their hours in their local communities.
Students are required to complete the online “Protecting Youth" training course and attend an information session during the first week of classes (details will be emailed to recipients). Students are also required to attend one Community Conversation event per semester. These are an opportunity to critically reflect on their community engagement.
Students will complete activities through the following ways:
- Helping sort and distribute food in local food pantries
- Working with Bridgeport youth through school-based and after-school tutoring programs
- Assisting with urban farming initiatives to provide fresh produce to local communities
- Supporting Bridgeport families through various direct service initiatives
Once you have completed a civic learning or social action activity, you must log it in using your GivePulse account. Only activities logged in your account will count toward the completion of your grant.
For questions, contact pioneerservicegrant@sacredheart.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
In-person service opportunities will be made available throughout the year. Activities will be sent out by the Community Engagement office or students can search and sign up through their GivePulse account.
Students are responsible for logging their own PSG hours after completing each activity. Use your GivePulse account to record and track your hours. You should aim to complete 15 hours during the fall semester and 15 hours during the spring semester.
The purpose of the PSG is to connect students to the Sacred Heart University and Greater Bridgeport communities. Our service opportunities are arranged for students to engage with our partners and with one another; therefore, volunteer work done before entering into the program does not count towards the competition of the grant. Students who participate in a SHU pre-fall program may count hours completed through their program.
There will be opportunities to engage in service and social justice presentations both on and off-campus and through other departments and offices. If you have a question whether or not an upcoming opportunity will count towards your grant hours, reach out to our office.
Pioneer Service Grant students who have also received community-based work study may complete hours for both programs over the course of the academic year. However, hours logged for one program cannot be counted towards the other (ie. the 30 hours logged for PSG cannot be included in payroll hours for work study).
No. The Pioneer Service Grant is for incoming first-year students only. If you are interested in pursuing additional service grant opportunities, check out our Community Scholars Grant.
Yes! All students (and faculty and staff) are welcome to participate in volunteer and community engagement opportunities, as well as service-learning, through our office. Visit us in HC 109 or email us at communityengagement@sacredheart.edu to learn more.