Adapted from Student Learning as Student Affairs Work: Responding to Our Imperative. Whitt, ed. 1999 and Civic Engagement in Higher Education. Jacoby, ed. 2009.

The concepts of civic engagement, community service, service learning, and volunteering are used to represent a variety of areas. Student Civic Engagement uses the following terms accordingly:

Civic Engagement – “Working to make a difference in the civic lives of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference; promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and nonpolitical processes. A morally and civically responsible individual recognizes him/herself as a member of a larger social fabric and considers social problems to be at least partly his/her own; such an individual is willing to see the moral and civic judgments and to take action when appropriate.”  – Thomas Ehrlich (2000)

Service Learning – In service-learning, students learn from active involvement with community projects and organizations.  They contribute skills and knowledge to community needs while integrating the experiential knowledge they gain with their academic studies. Service learning helps students transcend classroom boundaries and traditional forms of learning, resulting in the development of mutually rewarding civic ties and enhanced social understanding.

Community Service – In community service, students provide assistance (through their time, specific actions, raising funds or items) to an off-campus community need or organization/agency that directly serves an area/population of the community. In community service, the primary emphasis is on students providing direct or indirect assistance to the community through short and long-term involvement. Ideally, students will gain an enhanced awareness of community needs and sense of community engagement. Community service tends to be a form of volunteering, but does not need to be strictly voluntary.

Volunteering – In volunteering, students donate their time through providing assistance to activities or events that benefit a cause, institution, or organization, whether on- or off-campus. In volunteering, the primary emphasis is on the assistance being provided.




Chris Hutchison- Director, Student Civic Engagement
Chris began working at Chapman in 1998. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego and a Master of Science degree in Educational Studies / Higher Education from the University of Oxford. Chris is a Certified Instructor for the Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies Program and serves as an instructor for the Leadership Studies Program, in the College of Educational Studies, at Chapman.

Justin Koppelman- Program Coordinator, Student Civic Engagement
Justin is a two-time graduate of Chapman University, completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership and his Master of Arts degree in English.  Justin is the Regional VI Representative for NASPA’s Sustainability Knowledge Community, is certified by the CA Department of Education as a Service-Learning Coach, and has completed Orange County Human Relations’ “Human Relations 101” training.  Justin is also a founding, ex-officio member of Chapman’s Faculty Senate Environmental Committee.  

Click here for Department of Student & Campus Life Senior Staff contact information.



Jenny Feinstein
Meghan Grace
Gabriela Manriquez
Meghan Prout

Click here for Department of Student & Campus Life Student Staff contact information.


Student Civic Engagement
Department of Student & Campus Life
Argyros Forum 303
Contact Us at sce@chapman.edu