Humanics in Action Everyday Supports Springfield Community | Springfield College

Humanics in Action Everyday Supports Springfield Community

humanics in action everyday

Springfield College Professor of Computer Science and Physics, Emeritus Peter J. Polito, second from left, was once again leading students in the community on Sept. 2. It was the idea of Polito, then Springfield College Professor of Humanics, and leaders of the New Student Orientation program to revive and expand an event described in the 1918 Springfield College yearbook.

 

Springfield College first-year students were joined by student leaders, faculty, staff, alumni, and faculty emeritus on Sunday, Sept. 2 in being introduced to the Humanics philosophy at Springfield College by helping launch Humanics in Action Everyday, a day filled of community service outreach programs throughout the city of Springfield. Members of the Springfield College campus community will have the opportunity to work on the same service projects throughout the entire academic year, led by the Springfield College Center for Service and Leadership.

For more than 20 years, community outreach projects have been fulfilled by Springfield College work groups at the start of the academic year. The campus community provides services for schools, churches, senior citizen facilities, child-care centers, community organizations, city agencies, and neighborhoods. There are educational projects for school children, including students reading to youngsters at local schools. The majority of the volunteers participate in many indoor and outdoor painting projects, clean-up/fix-up projects, landscaping, and a host of other indoor and outdoor services. 

The Humanics in Action Everyday kick-off event started with Springfield College Center for Service and Leadership Director Charlene Elvers welcoming the incoming students to the Springfield College campus and the Humanics philosophy. Elvers was joined by Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper, and Springfield College Professor of Computer Science and Physics, Emeritus Peter J. Polito in expressing the importance of this special day of community service. It was the idea of Polito, then Springfield College Professor of Humanics, and leaders of the New Student Orientation program to revive and expand an event described in the 1918 Springfield College yearbook.

The Humanics in Action Everyday program highlights the commitment by Springfield College to year-round community-based service programs. Springfield College students contribute more than 120,000 hours of service to programs in schools, neighborhood organizations, and city programs.

Springfield College initiated Humanics in Action Day in September 1998. In the early years at the College, student work groups volunteered to improve the developing campus. Since 1998, Humanics in Action Day has been a day of service to the local community.