Roll Up Your Sleeves and Make an Impact
You don’t want to just “go to college.” You want to leave your mark on the world. You want to get instruction, but you also want to get involved. Below are just some of the ways Georgia Southern University gives back.
Finding the Problems to Solve
Volunteering at Georgia Southern gives students a front-row seat to the world’s challenges—from public health to environmental sustainability. By stepping into communities and engaging directly, they gain invaluable insights and firsthand knowledge of the issues they’re driven to solve. These experiences shape them as compassionate, informed leaders, ready to create real, lasting change where it matters most.
Sustainability & Nature
At Georgia Southern University, we believe in skills and service. That means you’ll get the hands-on training you need to be a leader in your field, but you’ll also be a part of a campus giving back to our communities, making southeast Georgia and beyond a better place.
Center for Wildlife Education
The Center for Wildlife Education is one of the leading environmental education facilities in Georgia. Using live animals cared for by staff and student workers, the center engages with more than 17,500 children and adults annually to educate communities on native Georgia wildlife, their habitats and the impact humans have on our environment.
Sustain Southern
Sustain Southern advocates for best sustainable practices for faculty, staff, and students and how they can incorporate sustainable habits in their research, teaching, and service. Their work has led to a wide range of projects on campus, resulting in 11 straight years of recognition in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges and a prestigious spot among the nation’s Green Ribbon Schools in 2018.
Institute for Water & Health
The Institute for Water and Health is a research and education center focused on facing current water and climate issues. Partnering with faculty, businesses, nonprofits and government agencies, students have the chance to join important environmental work in southeast Georgia.
Other Sustainability Efforts
At Georgia Southern, sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a commitment woven into everything we do. From innovative research in renewable energy and resource conservation to hands-on student-led initiatives, we’re building a greener campus and a more sustainable future. Our efforts go beyond reducing our footprint; we’re empowering a new generation of environmental stewards to lead with purpose and make a real impact on the world around them.
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Restoring Reefs, Reviving Ecosystems
Hands-on coastal restoration that strengthens marine life, water quality, and student experience.
Georgia Southern’s Oyster Reef Restoration project brings together students, faculty, and community partners to restore vital coastal ecosystems. By rebuilding oyster habitats, this initiative strengthens marine biodiversity, enhances water quality, and protects shorelines. Through hands-on restoration work and research, students gain a deeper understanding of sustainable environmental practices while making a lasting impact on Georgia’s coastal health.
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Advancing Healthcare
Georgia Southern is dedicated to improving health and wellness across our region. Through innovative research, community clinics, and partnerships with local healthcare providers, we tackle pressing health challenges and provide essential services. Our students and faculty work hands-on to promote accessible, high-quality healthcare, creating a healthier future for all.
Center for Rehabilitation & Independent Living
The Center for Rehabilitation and Independent Living aims to improve the health and movement of people of all ages and abilities in southeast Georgia. Through research and service, camps, outreach programs and wellness initiatives, faculty and students provide assessment, rehabilitation and enhancement of human movement for everyone.
RiteCare® Center for Communication Disorders
The RiteCare Center for Communication Disorders is a teaching center that provides services for children and adults with communication delays or disorders. Services are provided by our graduate students who are supervised by licensed and certified speech-language pathologists.
Tactical Athlete Initiative
The Tactical Athlete Initiative provides research, training and support for military, police, fire and EMS workers. Faculty and students across university disciplines partner for research and education projects as well as service and community outreach programs to help our public servants perform better and avoid injury.
Health in Action
At Georgia Southern, healthcare initiatives go beyond the classroom, empowering students to tackle global health challenges and contribute to real solutions. Through immersive experiences, partnerships, and research projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, students engage in efforts to improve health equity, address public health concerns, and innovate in patient care. From community clinics to data-driven research, our healthcare programs prepare students to be the next generation of leaders, dedicated to advancing health and wellness on a local and global scale.
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Empowering Lives Through Recovery Support
The Center for Addiction Recovery offers essential resources and support for individuals overcoming substance use disorders, fostering a path toward wellness and empowerment.
The Center for Addiction Recovery provides vital resources and support for individuals battling substance use disorders. Through comprehensive programs and community partnerships, we aim to foster recovery, enhance wellness, and empower individuals to reclaim their lives. Our dedicated team offers counseling, education, and recovery resources tailored to the needs of our community.
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Youth Outreach & Education
At Georgia Southern University, our Youth Outreach and Education initiatives encompass a range of programs designed to engage, inspire, and empower young people in our community. Through interactive workshops, mentorship opportunities, and educational resources, we aim to foster academic achievement and personal development among youth. Our programs include STEM outreach, college readiness workshops, and after-school enrichment activities, all tailored to meet the diverse needs of students. By partnering with local schools and community organizations, we create a supportive environment that encourages youth to explore their passions, develop essential skills, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning. Together, we are shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
Junior Achievement Discovery Center
The Junior Achievement Discovery Center on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah is an immersive learning experience for middle-school students. In a simulated version of greater Savannah, students apply concepts they learn in the classroom into real life. The center is the first of its kind to employ college students as instructors.
Call Me MISTER®
The Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program aims to increase the number of Georgia teachers from diverse backgrounds, building them up as leaders and fostering educator talent in high-need areas.
Camp RAD
Camp RAD provides fun, safe summer activities for youth with disabilities, teaching them important life skills that focus on health, wellness and physical activity. Faculty and students work with these young people to provide unforgettable experiences.
Empowering Growth Through Community Engagement
At Georgia Southern, we’re committed to strengthening our communities by investing in transformative programs that uplift, educate, and empower. From advocacy for youth to literacy initiatives and inclusive education, our programs provide hands-on opportunities for students to make a meaningful impact. By connecting classroom learning with real-world service, we’re building a future where everyone has the tools to thrive.
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Empowering Futures, One Youth at a Time
Advocating for young voices and bright futures through support and mentorship.
The Youth Advocacy Center at Georgia Southern is dedicated to empowering youth with the resources, support, and mentorship they need to succeed. Through advocacy, educational outreach, and one-on-one guidance, we’re committed to creating a positive, impactful presence in young lives, ensuring they feel heard and valued. Here, students and faculty work together to foster resilience, inspire confidence, and pave the way for a stronger community and a brighter future.
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Local Services
Georgia Southern’s local service initiatives bring impactful resources and support directly to our surrounding communities. Through health clinics, educational programs, and community partnerships, we’re dedicated to meeting local needs and fostering well-being. Our students and faculty work side-by-side with community members, gaining invaluable experience while creating positive change that resonates beyond campus.
Southern Leaders
The Southern Leaders program is a leadership development and community engagement program on the Statesboro and Savannah campuses. Students in the program learn how to make a difference in their communities through training, service, team projects and leadership opportunities.
Alternative Breaks
Alternative Breakers join weeklong volunteer trips to make a local, national and global social service impact. Alternative Breakers have traveled across the Southeast U.S. as well as Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco. They’ve also traveled internationally to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and El Salvador.
Serve912
Serve912 is Georgia Southern’s community service initiative. On the Statesboro and Savannah campuses, students and leaders engage with the community through year-round, regularly scheduled volunteer trips, service activities and meeting local needs.