Participating in service learning during your time at FIU is so much more than volunteering. It’s a hands-on opportunity to lead with purpose, build meaningful relationships, and grow both personally and professionally.
FIU students are known for being passionate changemakers. Whether you’re mentoring youth, organizing a campus-wide fundraiser, or spending spring break in a service-based project, every hour of service adds depth to your college experience. It’s about using your talents and interests to create real impact while building the kind of skills that stand out on a résumé and shape your future.
The Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) is your go-to hub for finding service opportunities that align with your goals. CLS connects students with over 250 nonprofit partners and offers programs designed to develop leadership and civic engagement. One of its flagship initiatives, Alternative Breaks, sends students across the country and abroad to work on pressing social issues during school breaks. You will return with new perspectives, lifelong friendships, and a stronger sense of purpose.
Back on campus, annual student-led events such as Relay for Life, Roarthon (FIU’s Dance Marathon), and the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk (hosted by Student Health & Wellness) bring the Panther community together in powerful ways. These events raise funds and awareness for critical causes including cancer research, children’s health, and mental health advocacy. You don’t need prior experience, only passion, a willingness to learn, and a desire to be part of something bigger than yourself.
Through these experiences, you will strengthen skills such as communication, time management, project coordination, and empathy. These are qualities that employers and graduate programs actively seek. Service-learning also expands your network by connecting you with student leaders, faculty mentors, and community organizations across South Florida.
Most importantly, it helps you clarify what matters to you. Many Panthers discover new career interests or confirm long-held passions through their service work. Whether you are studying business, education, engineering, or the arts, there is a place for you in FIU’s service ecosystem.
Ready to get involved? Visit the Center for Leadership and Service in GC 242 or explore their programs online. Your time at FIU is more than classes and credits. It is a chance to lead with heart, serve with purpose, and build the future you want to see.