Community-Engaged Student Employment

You want to make a difference. We can help. 

The Springfield College community-engaged student employment program employs students who have work study as part of their financial aid package in the following service programs. Most hiring and placement for these positions occurs during the beginning of the fall semester, but there are typically vacancies throughout the year.

Brookings Learning and Support Team (BLAST)

Springfield College and Elias Brookings Elementary School (a five-minute walk from campus) have an after-school initiative focused on developing youth in spirit, mind, and body. This after-school program includes students in second, third, and fourth grades, and has three goals that guide the direction and focus of its programming.

• Create a space for positive social interaction, relationship development, and collaboration
• Assist youth in the development of mindfulness and curiosity
• Facilitate activities that involve movement and teamwork

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15-5:30 p.m., Elias Brookings Elementary School

If you are interested in joining this program or simply have some questions, please contact the Center for Service and Leadership at (413) 748-3394 or blast@springfieldcollege.edu.

Partners Program

This is a unique collaboration between Springfield College and Springfield’s William N. DeBerry Elementary School and Elias Brookings Elementary School. Participating Springfield College students are paired with two fifth-grade students for a mentoring relationship focused on youth empowerment. The fifth graders are brought to campus for several hours each week to meet with their mentor and develop leadership skills and positive relationships while preparing for the transition to middle school.

Additionally, the youth have an opportunity to experience life on a college campus and learn more about higher education. The Partners Program is a student-led initiative that have student site coordinators planning and overseeing the activities under the supervision of a graduate associate. Since the program’s inception in 1993, more than 2,000 Springfield youth and Springfield College students have shared time together and learned from one another.

When: Monday-Thursday, 3:30-6 p.m., on the campus (partners pairs meet only one of these days each week)

For more information, contact the Center for Service and Leadership at (413) 748-3394 or partners@springfieldcollege.edu.

Middle School Mentors

The Middle School Mentors is an expansion of the long-running Partners Program for middle school students. Springfield College students are paired with a middle school students for one-to-one mentoring.

When: Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30-5:30pm on campus at the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (385 Eastern Avenue, Springfield). 

For more information, contact the Center for Service and Leadership at (413)748-3394 or clce@springfieldcollege.edu.

Homework Heroes

The Homework Heroes program is a homework help drop-in center for youth in Springfield from kindergarten through high school. Springfield College students staff this center two days a week and provide help with homework, tutoring in reading and math, and other academic support. This support is offered both in-person and virtually.       

When: Tuesdays and Thursday nights, 5-7 p.m., on campus at the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (385 Eastern Avenue, Springfield)       

For more information, contact the Center for Service and Leadership at (413) 748-3394 or clce@springfieldcollege.edu.

The Federal Community Work-Study Program was created by the federal government in 1964 for part-time employment for low-income students. Colleges and universities are now required to use a minimum of 7 percent of college allocated federal work-study funds to engage students in community service programs and to operate literacy programs. Springfield College sets aside 25 percent of its work-study funds for community service programs.