Civic Engagement

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is committed to being a community of students, faculty, and staff members who give back to the campus, the Huntsville community, and beyond on a regular basis. Our efforts to engage the wider campus community in these efforts are led by SOAR (Serving, Organizing, Advocating, and Reflecting). SOAR is the student-led civic engagement programming board that exists to provide opportunities for direct community service, societal issue awareness and education, and advocacy and governmental training through events open to the entire UAH community.

Serving

SOAR provides UAH students numerous ways to serve the campus and the Huntsville community through service small groups and bi-weekly service events. These opportunities assist with the development of life skills and prepare students to become successful citizens of the world. Previous service locations include Manna House, MH Hydroponic Gardens, Greater Huntsville Humane Society, Christmas Charities Year Round, FirstStop, Free2Teach, and more. Additionally, the Office of Student Life and SOAR organize Winter and Spring Break Service Learning trips, providing interested students the opportunity to spend their breaks giving back to a community outside of Huntsville. Previous locations have included Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; New Orleans, LA; St. Louis, MO, and more. 

Organizing & Advocating

We seek to inform the student body on the importance of being active citizens through voting, organizing, and advocating for causes and issues that matter to them. SOAR and the Office of Student Life oversee the ChargersVote initiative, which create programs to register, educate, and turn out Chargers as voters. SOAR also organizes numerous civic engagement education events throughout the year. These events include opportunities to meet and learn from leaders in the Huntsville community, register to vote, and open conversations about issues in nonpartisan moderated discussions.

Reflecting

SOAR also provides awareness education programming that brings current social issues to light through panels, discussions, documentary screenings, book clubs, and more. Basically, we utilize all forms of media that can help our students understand issues such as homelessness, criminal justice, and sustainability, to name a few. For example, we once hosted a panel with Huntsville city leaders to understand the economic and cultural changes within the city. These events create environments that are conducive to reflection on behalf of each student in regard to his/her beliefs and role in creating a better world for everyone. 

The Big Event

First established at The University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2011, The BIG Event is an annual tradition of engaging in community service in the greater Huntsville community. Every April, students, student organizations, faculty, staff, alumni, and numerous other members of the Charger community rally together and serve to say THANK YOU to the people of Huntsville/Madison County. The service projects span numerous nonprofit organizations and public schools across Huntsville and Madison County.

Homecoming

UAH Homecoming Philanthropy Events are our way of collaborating with UAH Alumni to give back. In addition to food drives for the student food pantry Charger Cupboard, SOAR collaborates with the UAH Alumni Association in the annual Homecoming Service Saturday.