Community Engagement

Community Engagement

Rockford University has a long and proud tradition of community engagement and volunteerism. When Rockford graduate Jane Addams established Hull-House in Chicago in 1889, she also established a lasting legacy of community service. That legacy carries on at Rockford University through the Jane Addams Center and through Rockford University’s institutional commitment to serving the greater good.

The Jane Addams Center organizes and helps facilitate volunteer opportunities in the local community for our students, faculty, and staff. Through our Community Engagement fairs, we also offer our campus a chance to learn more about the excellent work being accomplished at local non-profits. From our athletic teams to student clubs, volunteerism is a key part of building community and plays an integral role in student life at Rockford University. 

Community Service can also be an important part of students’ pre-professional experience. Volunteering can help a student discover what they value, while giving back to the community. Community service gives a student experience in a range of different fields and helps them garner valuable assets such as empathy, kindness, work ethic, and time management. 

Email us at jacce@rockford.edu, and we’ll help you get connected!

Jane Addams Day of Service

A highlight of each academic year is our Jane Addams Day of Service. A centerpiece of our University’s commitment to the Rockford region, the day recognizes the September birthday of our alum Jane Addams, who founded Hull-House in Chicago and won the Nobel Peace Prize. To honor her enduring legacy of community engagement, students, faculty, and staff serve in teams to complete service projects at sites throughout the Rockford region. The day is part of our institutional commitment to build an educational experience for our students grounded in the principles of working for the betterment of our community and for the common good. For Jane Addams Day of Service 2025, we mobilized over 700 volunteers who served at 34 sites across the Rockford region. 

Hearts in Action

A new club on campus, starting in Fall 2025, RU Hearts in Action organizes volunteer opportunities for Rockford University students both on and off campus. The club has volunteered at local community organizations including Rockford Rescue Mission, Stroll on State, and Northwest Community Center and meets on campus to make cards for Rockford University community members, create signs of support for RU athletic teams, and craft cards with words of encouragement for residents of local nursing homes. If you are a Rockford University student interested in joining RU Hearts in Action, please email us at jacce@rockford.edu, and we can help you get in touch with the student leaders of the club.

Jane Addams Center at
Fisher Chapel, Rockford University