HOW ASSUMPTION STUDENTS IMPACT THE COMMUNITY
Community service is an integral part of who we are at Assumption University. Each year, students, faculty, and staff contribute thousands of hours of service to Worcester County, partnering with a variety of civic and charitable organizations to provide service to our local community. We’re proud of our hometown, and we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished here.
Our community benefits report page provides details of Assumption’s efforts in serving our community, along with in-depth articles highlighting some of our ongoing service projects and some new endeavors. From planting community gardens to mentoring local students, we’re working every day to build a better Worcester and light the way for an even brighter tomorrow.
Community Contributions
$145,000 in Partnerships
Annual Commitments and Partnerships to the Hanover Theatre, Worcester Red Sox, Worcester Railers, and the DCU Center, all located here in Worcester.
140,000+ Hours of Service
Amount of time Assumption students have spent serving in communities across Worcester County and Massachusetts through internships, practicums, and more.
32 Locations Supported
Number of establishments that have benefited from the service of Assumption students through direct volunteering, both inside and outside the classroom.
1904 Day of Service
Named for the year of our founding, this new annual tradition reflects the University’s Assumptionist-inspired commitment to serving our neighbors and collectively cultivating the common good.
Campus Community Service Groups
Reach Out Center
The Reach Out Center partners with a variety of different clubs and groups on Assumption’s campus to help improve the lives of those in the Worcester Community. The groups within the Reach Out Center include Best Buddies, GreenHounds, Second-Hand Hounds, Habitat for Humanity, and Big Brother Big Sister. These clubs and groups participate in a number of activities from helping to build houses around Worcester to working to make Assumption more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Assumption Athletics and Recreation
Students from Assumption’s Athletics and Recreation Center participate in various volunteering and community service. From the Baseball team helping out at Little Leagues, to the Football team volunteering at reading days at local schools, and to the Cheerleading team helping with gardening and cleaning at community locations, Assumption’s students dedicate their time to their communities in a variety of ways.
Campus Ministry
Inspired by Catholic teaching, Campus Ministry offers opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to support communities both near and far away. Week long service and immersion trips, called SEND trips, allow Assumption community members to participate in ministry in diverse settings. These trips allow students to grow in faith and spirit through reflection and experience. Outside of service trips, students may also help to lead retreats for local Worcester high schoolers.
Community Service Learning
Many courses at Assumption include Community Service Learning (CSL), allowing students to receive hands-on training and experience in the fields that mean the most to them while also providing important assistance to our local community. Through CSL classes, students experience a unique opportunity to participate in and learn about the complexity of the social, economic, political, and cultural world and to think in original ways about the substantive problems in society.
Student Government Assoiciation
The Student Government Association (SGA) advocates for the entire student body, enhancing their college experience; however, that is not where their influence stops. These students also drive change outside Assumption’s campus, from running book and coat donation drives for students in need to participating in Working for Worcester each year.
A Commitment to Our Veterans
Assumption University recognizes that servicemen and women have demonstrated great courage and made tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation and its people. The University has introduced a number of programs and services to assist veterans during the application process and while veterans are attending Assumption. We also have a lounge designated only for our veteran students. Assumption University is committed to maintaining recognition as a Military Friendly institution. We strive to eliminate barriers to success for our Service Members, Veterans, and their qualified dependents.
Previous Community Benefits Reports
2022-2023 Community Benefits Report
Assumption graduates are known in the Worcester community for far more than just their intelligence. Through experiential learning and impactful service on campus, Assumption students become compassionate citizens with a deep empathy for the communities around them. As a community, Assumption seeks to help those in need, whether it be through life-long learning or benevolent healthcare. When our community thrives, we thrive too.
2021-2022 Community Benefits Report
Assumption students, staff and faculty have made an impact in nearly every Worcester neighborhood. In just the last academic year alone, Assumption students volunteered more than 100,000+ hours in service to the people, neighborhoods and organizations in Worcester. If asked to place a dollar amount on the contributions the inatitution makes to the city through service, such a figure would easily number in the millions.
2018-2019 Community Benefits Report
Regardless of a student’s chosen major at Assumption, inextricably weaved throughout all academic disciplines – and many co-curricular programs – is the importance of engagement within one’s community. At Assumption, we shape students into being the best individuals and leaders that they can be; to set forth their innate passions to positively impact the world.
2017-2018 Community Benefits Report
The formation of Assumption students begins with imparting upon them a sense of purpose; to use their gifts and knowledge not only to advance a career, but also to make meaningful contributions to the world in which they live, in particular to those in the greatest of need. Through a number of endeavors that teach students the importance of thoughtful citizenship and compassionate service, Assumption students can be found in many areas of the city of Worcester applying their talents in service of others.
2016-2017 Community Benefits Report
Assumption students, staff and faculty have made an impact in nearly every Worcester neighborhood. In just the last academic year alone, Assumption students volunteered more than 135,000 hours in service to the people, neighborhoods and organizations in Worcester. If asked to place a dollar amount on the contributions the inatitution makes to the city through service, such a figure would easily number in the millions.5
2015-2016 Community Benefits Report
How do we define success? Is it defined by the accumulation of wealth, in the accumulation of prestige, or does it mean something deeper – something much more important? Here at Assumption, we believe success means a life well-lived, a life that is guided by a dedication to one’s fellow men and women. Success is measured not by what we gain, but what we can provide to others.
2013-2014 Community Benefits Report
To Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon, the founder of the Assumptionist order, an education was not simply a path to personal gain – its fruits were to be shared with everyone. It was not enough to succeed on one’s own, it was imperative that one also help others succeed. Today, Assumption is proud to continue this rich educational philosophy of Fr. d’Alzon. We believe that a well-lived life is one that sparks a light that illuminates the world and that service to others is a hallowed obligation we are privileged to undertake, a lesson we aspire to instill in our students.0