CIVICUS Citation Guidelines For Fall 2022 

CIVICUS students must fulfill the requirements detailed below during their four semesters in the program in order to receive their CIVICUS Citation.  (Please note, we will monitor changes in COVID-19 Guidelines and UMD regulations and may provide an addendum with updates to the service requirements and any other necessary changes.)

SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

First Year Fall Semester

• This semester CIVICUS students will complete four civic engagement projects, with a minimum of three different organizations, and a reflection on each experience. A variety of activities can fulfill this requirement, including working on service projects, engaging in advocacy events, and participating in CIVICUS-led activities. Students can participate in projects organized by CIVICUS or submit their own proposal. Detailed instructions and due dates are available on the CIVICUS ELMS page.

First Year Spring Semester

• As part of their coursework in BSCV182, students will engage in a long term service project with our local community on a service oriented project with a community partner(s) of their choosing.

Sophomore Year

• Students will continue to engage in and reflect upon meaningful and substantive work with community organizations as part of their CIVICUS requirements and coursework.

ATTENDANCE AT CIVICUS EVENTS

CIVICUS students are expected to attend all required events. An unexcused absence from a required event may result in CIVICUS probation. CIVICUS students are expected to arrive on time and stay until the event ends. Unexcused tardiness and early departures may be treated as unexcused absences. 

Excused absences from class include religious holidays (the student must provide notification within the first three weeks of class regarding any religious observance absence(s) for the entire semester), a death in the family, mandatory military service, court dates (an official notice from the court must be submitted), or participation in university activities at the written request of university authorities. For absences due to illness or the illness of a dependent, including COVID-related illnesses, you may submit a self-certified note that includes a statement about the illness and acknowledges the information is true and correct under the Code of Student Conduct. The self-signed note must be submitted before the event you miss. Absences stemming from work duties, work for other classes, transit issues, and technology problems do not qualify as excused absences.

Some optional and enrichment events will require an RSVP. It is important for students to RSVP by the listed deadlines and attend those events for which they confirmed attendance. A great deal of money can be wasted on no-shows, which limits the activities and resources we can provide.

ATTENDANCE AT CIVICUS CIVICUS ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS

Our partner organizations often plan based on a specific number of participants.  If a student finds they cannot attend a civic engagement project they signed up for, they must find another CIVICUS student to take their place. A student with an unexcused absence who misses an event without a replacement will be placed on CIVICUS probation.

COVID Compliance:  Students must follow all UMD guidelines and safety precautions related to COVID as outlined on the 4Maryland page.  This includes wearing face coverings over the nose and mouth at all times while indoors regardless of vaccination status. On service projects, students must abide by the rules of the organization.  (Students must follow whatever policies -- the organization's or UMD’s -- are more restrictive)  Students not in compliance will be given a warning and asked to comply. After a first warning, students not in compliance will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

A CIVIL COMMUNITY 

CIVICUS is an outstanding community of scholars, doers, leaders, and citizens that values diversity and the open exchange of ideas. CIVICUS should take the lead in creating an environment characterized by tolerance, ethical engagement, respect, and civility. It is critical that students uphold the highest standards of civil society and behave in a manner that respects and values their classmates, instructors, guests, and the University of Maryland.

It is against UMD Policy and, in many cases, against the law to treat people unfairly because of their religious beliefs, age, race, sex, color, country of birth, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, physical or mental disability, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is expected CIVICUS students will not engage in civil rights and sexual misconduct violations, including but not limited to Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Hate Bias, or Hate Speech. Violations could result in CIVICUS probation, suspension from CIVICUS, sanctions from UMD, sanctions from the Department of Resident Life, and/ or legal action.

It is expected all students will abide by the UMD Code of Student Conduct, including COVID-related policies, and the UMD Code of Academic Integrity.  Violations could result in suspension from CIVICUS, CIVICUS probation, sanctions from UMD, sanctions from the Department of Resident Life, and/or legal action. Fabrication or misrepresentation of attendance, service hours, or responsibilities will be treated as an academic integrity issue and may result in immediate removal from CIVICUS and referral to the Office of Student Conduct.

COURSEWORK AND GRADES 

In order to receive the CIVICUS Citation, students must complete the twelve credits of coursework listed below. Students cannot have a grade lower than a C- in any individual course and must maintain a grade point average no lower than 3.0 in all CIVICUS Citation courses. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all university courses.

First Semester

BSCV 181: CIVICUS Student and the University (1 credit)

BSCV 191: Introduction to CIVICUS (3 credits)

Second Semester

BSCV 182: CIVICUS and Service-Learning (1 credit)

Third Semester

BSCV 328 (CIVICUS Suffix): Common Ground Deliberative Dialogues; Hot Button Topics in Society (1 credit) 

(cross listed as CHSE 328C)

Fourth Semester

BSCV 302: CIVICUS Capstone (3 credits)

Outside of CIVICUS Course

Students must take one of the five outside of CIVICUS courses listed below. Most students take the course in the second semester of their first year, but they may take it any time in their four semesters in CIVICUS.

• SOCY105 Introduction to Contemporary Social Problems
• COMM382 Essentials of Intercultural Communication
• HESI217 Introduction to Student Leadership
• PLCY201 Public Leaders and Active Citizens
• PSYC354 Multicultural Psychology in the U.S.
• PLCY 288G Careers in Impact

CIVICUS PROBATION

CIVICUS students who do not meet the above requirements during any semester they are enrolled in courses at UMD will be placed on CIVICUS probation the following semester.  Students may only be on probation for one semester during their time in CIVICUS. Students on probation for more than one semester will be asked to leave CIVICUS. They will no longer be eligible to enroll in CIVICUS courses or to receive the CIVICUS Citation.  Students must have completed all of their requirements by the end of their fourth semester in CIVICUS.

If a student is placed on CIVICUS probation because of failure to complete civic engagement requirements, the student must complete all missing requirements from the prior semester as well as the civic engagement requirements for the current semester during their probationary semester.

We also know that stress, anxiety, and life events may create challenges. We want to be able to support you. To do this, we need to know about a problem when it begins and not after it has already impacted your progress in CIVICUS.  If you are struggling, please schedule a time to talk so we can help you find support and resources.