SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
All Saints’ Chapel Outreach Ministries is a program designed to involve students in the challenging effort of helping and serving others and then reflecting on those experiences. Student commitment to social responsibility has always been a large part of the University’s history and tradition. Components of this program include Appalachia Housing Projects where students aid in the building and refurbishing of homes in this region, break trips where students serve in locations such as Honduras, Jamaica, New York, New Orleans, and Miami; and placement assistance in such organizations as the Peace Corps and Learning Through Service. The Coordinator’s office is located in the Bishop’s Common and is open to all students.
Alpha Phi Omega is a national service fraternity that promotes leadership development, meaningful friendship and service to humanity. APO derives its purpose from its close relationship with the Boy Scouts of America.
BACCHUS (Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students) is a local affiliate of a national organization by the same name. Both grew out of concern by students, faculty, and staff about moderate use of alcohol on campus. The purpose of BACCHUS is to encourage responsible drinking behavior within the campus community, and to provide safe rides on campus.
Big People for Little People is about friendship. It is a formal organization set up to help begin mentoring relationships between University students and students at Sewanee Elementary.
The Community Service Council seeks to provide support, communication, and visibility for the community service groups involved and to serve as a springboard for new community ideas.
Habitat for Humanity works to build affordable and decent housing for low-income Sewanee residents. Through participating in every phase of construction from building to refurbishing, student participants are challenged in their awareness and sensitivity to cultures perhaps different from their own. Habitat for Humanity also works closely with the Housing Sewanee program.
The Headstart Program sponsors Headstart volunteers who teach children 3 to 5 years of age basic learning skills on a weekly basis at the Headstart Center. The volunteers give several small parties for the children on major holidays in addition to their teaching responsibilities.
The Homeless Shelter outreach organization provides volunteer services to the homeless shelters of Atlanta and other cities surrounding Sewanee, and at the same time provides an opportunity for students of the University to give to and learn from the community of the Southeast.
Housing Sewanee is an organization consisting of undergraduate students, community members, seminarians, and university faculty who volunteer their time and skills with measured energy into renovation and the repair of low-income homes in the Sewanee community. Services rendered by HS are performed without charge.
The School Tutors are a group of Sewanee students who make weekly trips to the Grundy County High School. The goal of the tutors is to aid the teachers and to provide positive role models for the students at the school.
The Sewanee Aids Awareness Association has as its primary purpose and focus to educate and inform students at the University of the South and the Sewanee community concerning the causes, transmission, and conditions of AIDS/HIV and other topics related to the disease. The Association provides an open forum for the discussion of AIDS, AIDS support and AIDS community service. Membership is open to all students and community members.
The Sewanee Emergency Medical Service provides full emergency medical and non-emergency medical care to Sewanee and surrounding areas year round. The service is composed of both students and community members who are licensed Emergency Medical Technicians by the State of Tennessee. To be considered for the Service, all interested parties must successfully complete the EMT course offered at Sewanee and undergo a rigorous selection process.
The Sewanee Senior Citizens Program provides students with a unique opportunity for interaction with residents of Heritage Manor Nursing Homes in Monteagle on an individual or group basis. As individuals, students are given the opportunity to adopt a grandmother or grandfather. As a group, the Sewanee Senior Citizens Program participates in weekly bingo games and sponsors holiday parties.
The Sewanee Volunteer Fire Department is responsible for fire protection in Sewanee and the surrounding area. Training in fire fighting, by the Department, is open to qualified University students and others in the community. There are approximately sixteen undergraduate members of the department which has around forty total members. Waste Not is a student recycling organization dedicated to finding effective and efficient ways to recycle materials. Waste Not focuses on educating students about the ways and benefits of recycling, as well as creating on-campus programs in which students can participate.
