Civic Engagement

The NYU Office of Civic Engagement provides opportunities for students to develop deeper and richer partnerships with local non-profit organizations, public schools, city government, and civic organizations through several employment and service programs.  

The Office of Civic Engagement is home to NYU America Reads/America Counts, the nation's largest tutoring program in which over 800 undergraduate and graduate students work as tutors in over 80 NYC public schools annually. 

The Office of Civic Engagement also operates NYU Jumpstart, an AmeriCorps program in which seventy NYU students work in small teams to help ensure academic success among pre-K children at local early education nonprofit organizations. 

In addition, this office operates NYU’s Public Service Corps, which provides student internship opportunities in over 30 New York City government offices. 

The Office of Civic Engagment also works in close partnership with the Center for Student Activities, Leadership and Service to support their vast array of comprehensive volunteer programming for students.

The Office of Civic Engagement coordinates two grant programs to encourage civic participation and volunteerism:  

• Community Service Project Grants are offered on a semi-annual basis to students, staff and faculty wishing to create or enhance community service initiatives on the Lower East Side and Greenwich Village and in neighborhoods adjacent to the many NYU schools and divisions.
• Service Learning Course Development Grants are available to support the development or enhancement of undergraduate or graduate courses that include a practicum of a volunteer experience either organized by the instructor or developed by students as an integral part of the course.

In addition, the Office of Civic Engagement coordinates the NYU Combined Campaign, in which full-time employees provide financial support to the United Way of NYC and the NYU Community Fund.  Since its inception in 1982, the NYU Community Fund has awarded over $2.4 million to nonprofit organizations near NYU campuses.  Students may also take part semester specific internships to gain valuable nonprofit work experience through the Community Fund Internship Program.