Honors Week of Service: August 11-16, 2024
Registration Information
Registration Opens: May 23, 2024 | 12 pm (CST)
What is Week of Service?
The Week of Service program is in its eleventh year and is a student-led, annual event hosted by the Auburn University Honors College committed to teaching incoming freshmen about poverty and showing them how they can serve in the Lee County community and beyond. Each day consists of a new service site, new information about poverty from a speaker or film, educational activities, and additional activities. The goal of the Week of Service Program is to spark a desire for service within each participant and to give them an excellent introduction to Auburn University. Participants will have the opportunity to make friends with other incoming first-year students while also being led through the week by an upperclassman Honors College student.
Mission Statement
The Week of Service program is dedicated to education, justice, and service. We seek to bring awareness to the causes and consequences of poverty at the national, state, and local levels. We empower students to live with empathy and compassion and to build relationships as their most authentic selves with each other and their communities. The Week of Service is a call to action: to better our community through understanding, advocacy, and helping others who need it most.
Why Poverty?
Auburn University Honors College adopted the theme of poverty to raise awareness of both its causes and effects across the state of Alabama, the United States of America, and the world. This program is designed to give incoming Honors College freshmen first-hand experiences with poverty at a local level. The program includes thoughtful conversation and personal reflection for all its participants. Overall, previous students consider the week to be “impactful, eye-opening, and transformative.”
The program is designed to give participants an experience that is both challenging and enlightening. A traditional academic approach is mixed with hands-on learning to help participants develop a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding poverty. Thanks to this program, these students are creating an environment of service that is true to the mission of Auburn University.
Meet Your Counselors
Head Counselors
Major: Political Science and International Studies, Pre-Law
Favorite Song: “Invisible String” by Taylor Swift
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Irritable Bao
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Favorite Song: “I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Ariccia
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Favorite Song: “The Wonder of You” by Elvis Presley
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Bow & Arrow
Major: Conservation and Biodiversity
Favorite Song: “Saturn” by SZA
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Good Karma
WOS Counselors
WOS Counselors
Major: Political Science
Favorite Song: “Spud Infinity” by Big Thief
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Guthrie’s
Major: Microbiology: Cell and Molecular Biology
Favorite Song: “Graceland Too” by Phoebe Bridgers
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Acre
Major: Biological and Agricultural Technologies Management
Favorite Song: “Better Together” by Jack Johnson
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Panda Express
Major: Microbiology
Favorite Song: “Carry on Wayward Son” by Kansas
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Village Dining
Major: Landscape Horticulture
Favorite Song: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Irritable Bao
Major: Chemical Engineering with a Biomedical specialization
Favorite Song: “Back on 74” by Jungle
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: My kitchen
Major: Elementary Education
Favorite Song: “Satellite” by Harry Styles
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Guthrie's
Major: Biosystems Engineering, Ecological Engineering
Favorite Song: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terell
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Lemongrass Thai
Major: Psychology, Premed Focus
Favorite Song: “Heaven Sent” by The Steeldrivers
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: The Depot
Major: Nursing and Spanish
Favorite Song: “Palomino Gold” by The Wilder Blue
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Chipotle
Major: Electrical Engineering
Favorite Song: “Coaster” by Khalid
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Philly Connections
WoS Staff Information
WoS Staff Information
FAQs
Each day begins at a different service site where participants will spend 3 to 4 hours, followed by lunch on your own. During the day, participants will hear from speakers, watch and discuss films, engage in educational activities, and have dinner as a group. The day ends with a fun, optional activity. Follow our Instagram, @auweekofservice, as we release a detailed schedule each day throughout the week!
While we do not want to spoil the surprise of service locations for this year yet, we have worked with a lot of great organizations in the past and will work with many great organizations again this year! Some past service sites that we loved are Storybook Farm, Alabama Rural Ministries, Food Bank of East Alabama, Habitat for Humanity Restore, and Reading is Fundamental. To stay updated about service locations, stay tuned to our Instagram page @auweekofservice
The Week of Service also includes activities such as film reviews and discussions, educational activities, lectures from guest speakers, and social opportunities.
While we do have a busy schedule, there are times during the day where participants will have free time as well as optional activities where participation is not required.
As you are preparing to move to on or off-campus housing for the school year, keep these items in mind specifically for Week of Service:
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Closed-toe shoes
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Sunscreen
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Bug spray
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Clothes you don’t mind working in/getting dirty
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Personal bag (such as a drawstring bag)
No, participants are free to drive and carpool, but transportation will be provided for those without vehicles.
No, any incoming Honors College freshman is eligible to apply.
Yes, in order to provide this service-learning experience, participants are responsible for a $75 programmatic fee. This fee helps to cover expenses such as meals, a t-shirt, reservations, some activities, and transportation.
For those who are moving on-campus early, there is a separate Early Housing Move-In Fee of $90 that will be charged directly to the student. Students living off-campus should be make arrangements with their place of residence to be moved in and settled by the Week of Service Kick-Off
Housing will send out specific instructions on when and where to get your room key.
Yes, register for move-in as usual. If you choose to participate, the Honors College will notify you and place you on a modified early move-in schedule.
Some meals are provided during the Week of Service. A schedule will be provided that clearly indicates when and where meals and snacks will be provided. Participants with special dietary restrictions will be accommodated as much as possible. There will be limited dining options available on-campus during the week.
The Week of Service runs all day with a combination of mandatory and some optional activities. In order to fully experience the program, it is recommended that participants not be involved in any other activities during the week.
This optional class is a 1 credit hour pass/fail Honors College participation course held in the Fall semester. See Course Offering: HONR 1087.
At the time of registering for Week of Service, you will indicate if you would like to be enrolled in the course for the Fall 2022 semester. Honors College staff will then place students in the course. This class will remain closed throughout Camp War Eagle (CWE) since only participants are eligible to be in the class.
