Service  |  Academic Work  |  Education & Training  |  Capacity Building  |  Deliberative Democracy 

Types of Service short-term  |  ongoing school year  |  summer

•   Short Term
  • PSC/Bonner Earth Day Events
  • Shade Tree Commission Arbor Day
  • Widener H.E.L.P.S
    • End of semester campus wide collection of clothing & furniture to be given to local charities
  • Mayor’s City of Chester Clean-up Day
  • Alternative Spring Break Trips
  • Washington Park Clean-Up
• Ongoing
  • Widener Paper Recycling
  • Widener Ink Cartridge Recycling
  • Habitat for Humanity builds
  • Habitat for Humanity’s Eco-Rhythm Concert Tour
  • Biology and Environmental Service Learning Classes
  • Adopt a Street on Campus

Academic Work  courses  |  service-learning  |  CBR and policy research   |  departments and institutes

•   Courses/Service Learning
  • ENVR 180- Sustainable Development: Service Learning in Tropical America  
  • ENVR 261- Global Information Systems
  • ENVR 388- Special Topics in Environmental Science  
  • BIO 172 Service-Learning in Biology, Teaching Concepts of Freshman Biology to Elementary School Students  
  • Service Learning in Costa Rica- El Bosque Nuevo
    • Farming sustainability in Central America
    • Help butterfly farmers from the El Bosque Reserve produce, package, and ship butterflies to locations all over the world
  • Service Learning in Peru
    • Amazon Basin reforestation
• Departments & Institutes
  • Widener Department of Environmental Science
  • Widener Engineering Department
  • Widener Biology Department
  • Widener Environmental Club
  • Widener Biology Club
  • Teaching Science Center
  • Environmental Outreach Program
  • Presidential Service Corps/Bonner Leaders
  • Widener Chapter Habitat for Humanity
  • Alternative Spring Break
  • Residence Hall Association
  • Kappa Alpha Psi

Education & Training forums  |  workshops  |  reflection activities

• Educational Opportunities for Teachers in Environmental Science
• The ADOPT A SCHOOL Program
• The Peruvian Teacher's Training Program in Environmental Science
• International Rainforest Teachers Training Program
• Franklin Institute Educational Hotlists

Campus and Organizational Capacity-Building  training  |  fundraising  |  resource development

• Seven Geothermal Buildings
• Single Stream Compactors
• Florescent Light Bulbs
• Motion Detected Lights
• Automatic Light Dimmers
• Tray-less days in the cafeteria to reduce waste
• Use of Recycled Napkins
• Bio-Degradable Products 

Research, Policy Analysis, Deliberative Democracy evaluations  |  policy research  | issue forums  |  advocacy

•    Widener Office of Environmental Community Outreach (ECO) Program
  • Supports and Implements responsible environmental policies both on Widener's campuses and in the surrounding communities.  Its mission is to help maintain the vitality of the communities surrounding Widener’s campuses and to aid students, faculty, and staff in contributing to the success of the communities in which they live. 
  • Focuses on the environmental excellence component by fostering partnerships between Widener University and the community and by providing education to heighten awareness and support informed decision-making to address environmental issues.

Contactsstaff  |  faculty  |  students  |  community partners (local, regional, national)

Faculty & Staff

• Melissa Otis
  • Greek Life & Volunteer Services
  • 610-499-4411
• Cecilia McCormick
  • Executive Director to the President & Director of PSC/Bonner Leader Program
  •  610-499-4102
• Marcine Pickron-Davis
  • Assistant to the President for Community Engagement & Diversity Initiatives
  • 610-499-4566
• Arlene Dowshen, Ed.D
  • Director of Service Learning

Community Partners

• Habitat for Humanity
• Shade Tree Commission
• Stetser Elementary School
• Widener Child Development Center
• Chester Environmental Partnership
• Penn State Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Delaware County
• Delaware County Institute of Science
• Delco Alliance for Environmental Justice