An image of OUWB students cleaning up Pontiac

  

Center for Community Engagement

Through Compass, the official address of community engagement, we focus on navigating connections with local, regional, national and global communities. These relationships enable faculty and staff to share their expertise with the community and assist medical students with meeting their learning objectives while identifying the needs of vulnerable populations who are served by our many diverse Compass community partners.

To learn more about Compass and its recent community engagement, please email compass@oakland.edu and request the community report.

How to Get Involved
Make a Difference Day

Two medical students stand by stove cooking meat and pasta for lasagna.

Make a Difference Day is an annual day of service for schools and organizations across the country. Each year, OUWB students volunteer their time at organizations around the community, which have included World Medical Relief in Southfield, MI, Hope Warming Center in Pontiac, MI, and Forgotten Harvest in Oak Park, MI, to name a few.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

OUWB students work at the health fair

Each year, OUWB carries forward the torch of community engagement by celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by hosting the MLK Day of Service. Throughout the week of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, students participate in a series of volunteer activities, which have included volunteering at the Health Fair and Taste Fest at Chandler Park Academy, serving meals to the homeless, and preparing food for home-bound seniors. 

OUWB-HOS Mentoring Program

OUWB student helps high school student with her homework.

A partnership between OUWB and the Catholic Charities Southeast Michigan-Hispanic Outreach Services (CCSM-HOS) has created a mentoring program for medicals students. Enthusiastic medical students at OUWB are invited to become a child’s mentor (9-17 yr.) for a period of 1-year, leading to a program certificate. This program involves educational activities to promote health and awareness of diseases affecting our children and our community at the Hispanic Outreach Service (HOS) and extracurricular activities (zoo, museums, bowling, etc.) to enhance communication and social skills. 

Medical Student as Educator

A medical student shows and explains a medical photo to high school students.

Medical students teach a standardized lesson based off of the Michigan Model for Health curriculum. Topics on Nutrition/Physical Activity; Personal Health and Wellness; Social and Emotional Health; and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs are presented at one of the local elementary schools. This activity enables medical students to demonstrate the ability to assimilate scientific evidence and participate in the education of students. Additionally, this activity provides medical students with practice demonstrating interpersonal and communication skills across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

OUWB Day of Service

An OUWB student volunteering at Forgotten Harvest farms. He carries a bucket of greens through a field.

Every August, students, faculty and staff join in the tradition of kicking off the new school year by giving back to the metro-Detroit community. Volunteer opportunities take place at various locations throughout the metro-Detroit area in the morning and early afternoon. 

Street Medicine Oakland

An OUWB student volunteering at Forgotten Harvest farms. He carries a bucket of greens through a field.

Street Medicine Oakland is a medical student-led organization aiming to bridge the gap between the homeless members of our community and healthcare providers. We work to better understand our patients’ realities, so that we may provide quality medical care and resources, while equipping future physicians and leaders in healthcare with perspective and experience caring for the homeless population. More information can be found at streetmedicineoakland.org.

Community Partners

View a full list of community partners.

Sign Up for Compass Events

For the most up-to-date information and event sign-ups, please look for emails and newsletters from compass@oakland.edu.

Compass Fall 2023 Events

  • OUWB Day of Service - Saturday, August 26, 2023
  • Introduction to Community Engagement - August 18, 21, 25, 29, 30 & September 8, 2023
  • Community Engagement Project Planning Program - September 8, 11, 19 & 27, 2023
  • Lunch and Learn: Introduction the OU Ghana Summer Experience - Thursday, September 14
  • Make a Difference Day - Saturday, October 28, 2023
  • Reach out to Youth - Saturday, November 18
Funding Opportunities

Community Service Mini-Grant: Individual students and student organizations are invited to submit a Compass Community Service Mini-Grant application. The mini-grant program is designed to encourage students, faculty, and staff to design and implement innovative service programs for the community surrounding OUWB.

The 2023-2024 mini-grant cycle is now open. Please note the mini-grant program has evolved and the new process is outlined in the application.

The application and instructions for submission can be found here.  Awards will be granted on a rolling basis until all funds have been exhausted or until April 1, 2024 at which time the 'flash grant' period will open. 

At least one individual from the mini-grant project team must attend an information session before a grant can be approved. The dates of the information sessions are:

Monday, February 5 at 12 pm (join here)

Tuesday, March 5 at 12 pm (join here)

Wednesday, April 3 at 12 pm (join here)

For more information, please contact compass@oakland.edu.

Student Community Service Hours Log and Awards

Awards

The OUWB Service Cord Program

The Compass Center for Community Engagement at OUWB Service Cord Program is an award given to students who exemplify the spirit of volunteerism. Students who meet the qualifying criteria will be awarded the purple and silver service cord, which is presented at Honors Convocation, to be worn during the commencement ceremony. The Compass Service Honor Cords colors symbolizes the following:

Purple – ambition, creativity and devotion
Silver – elegance, kindness, hope and sensitivity.

Those participating in this program support OUWB’s mission and vision statements through acts of service.

To qualify for the Service Cord Award students must complete all requirements as outlined below (requirements are specific to class years).

Classes of 2024, 2025, 2026 Certificates and Cords

Students can earn a certificate for the community service activities they participate in during the academic year.

Certificates are able to be earned by completing 50 hours of service at each of three different times points: the end of the M1 year, the end of the M2 year, and the end of the M4 year (the third and fourth year requirements are combined).

For our current students, the applicable service hours will fall accordingly:

  • Class of 2024 service certificate - 50 hours of service logged between August 1, 2022 and March 15, 2024
  • Class of 2025 – 50 hours of service logged between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024. 
  • Class of 2026 - 50 hours of service logged between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024.

The classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026  can earn service cords for graduation if they have received the community service certificate at each time point (M1, M2, and M3/M4). 

Class of 2027 and Beyond - Certificate and Service Cord Tracks

Class of 2027 and Beyond - Service Cord Track

Students must complete a minimum of 300 service hours over the course of their 4-year journey through Medical School.

In addition, for each academic year students must:

  • Participate in at least 3 OUWB sponsored events (a minimum of 12 over 4 years)
  • Complete 2 service reflections: (a maximum of 8 over the course of 4 years)
    • One for an OUWB sponsored event
    • One for an organization of your choice

For all non OUWB sponsored service you must submit a site supervisor form to verify your hours and service rendered

Class of 2027 and Beyond Certificate Track

Service Certificate Award 

The Compass Center for Community Engagement at OUWB Service Certificate Program is an award given to students who complete at least 150 hours of service over the course of their 4-year medical school career. Students who follow this path will receive a certificate acknowledging the total number of service hours given over all 4 years.

Students must complete a minimum of 150 service hours over the course of their 4-year journey through Medical School.

In addition to the hours, for each academic year students must:

  • Participate in at least 3 OUWB sponsored events (a minimum of 12 over 4 years)
  • Complete 2 service reflections: (a maximum of 8 over the course of 4 years)
    • One for an OUWB sponsored event
    • One for an organization of your choice

For all non-OUWB sponsored service you must submit a site supervisor form to verify your hours and service rendered

Logging Hours

Students are responsible for logging their own volunteer hours and only those hours that have been logged in the form (see below) will count towards service certificates/ cords.

Students are able to log any direct service activity, not only those sponsored by OUWB. Fundraising does not count towards the service hours certificate, however if you are responsible for planning the fundraiser the hours completed for those preparations can be counted.  For questions on what does or does not count towards the service hours certificate contact compass@oakland.edu

Classes of 2024, 2025, & 2026 Service Hours Log Form

Class of 2027 Service Hours Log Form

You are able to log service hours for an ongoing program with one form. Please wait until the last date of your program and log the total hours/ list the dates of the program.

Contact Compass

Compass Email: compass@oakland.edu

Compass Phone: (248) 370-4696

Tonya Bailey, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Community Engagement

Nelia Afonso, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Community Integration & Outreach
Professor in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies

Trixy Hall, MAT
Graduate Programs & Community Outreach Coordinator
 
Jean Szura, Ph.D.
Director of Service Learning
 
Rose Wedemeyer, Ph.D.
Director of Education Training