OPCE aims to facilitate engagement and partnership between UMSI students, local, and global communities. Through OPCE's programs, students have the opportunity to work with various nonprofit organizations, charities, and government agencies. Typically, students can choose to apply to these programs based on the program objective, duration, and location. In the past, students have traveled to cities and countries such as Detroit, Washington D.C., Chicago, and India. While some of these projects are as shorts as two days, some last for the entire semester!
Through these programs, students gain hands-on experience and directly collaborate with community partners to make an impact. Most of the programs focus on information and technology related projects, but if you are looking for volunteering opportunities, OPCE also offers programs that are not information or technology related (check out Service Week, where students volunteer their time to help make the local community a better place)!
For UMSI students, OPCE currently offers the following programs:
- Ann Arbor Data Dive
- Alternative Spring Break (ASB)
- Citizen Interaction Design
- Community Impact Projects
- Design Clinic
- Global Information Engagement Program (GIEP)
- Michigan Makers
- Service Week
- Masters International Volunteer Program
- (For undergraduate students only) Study Abroad
You can also learn more about these programs by visiting OPCE's website: https://www.si.umich.edu/programs/professional-and-community-engagement/students
Alternatively, check out their blog to read about the fun and experiences students have had in the past by participating in different activities: http://opce-umsi.blogspot.com/
Photo from OPCE blog
