Community Outreach
Hofstra University offers a wide range of programs that engage the surrounding community and benefit students, faculty and our neighbors.
» Providing cultural enrichment | more |
- The Hofstra Cultural Center offers a full calendar of conferences, musicals, theatrical performances and lectures each year.
- The Hofstra University Museum and the Hofstra arboretum (comprising Hofstra's entire 240-acre campus) offer exhibits, programs and tours year-round. The arboretum, which includes a bird sanctuary, provides a tranquil outdoor space for the surrounding community.
- Theatrical programs offered through Hofstra Entertainment provide entertainment throughout the year.
- The Middle School Honors Band Festival, Student Press Day, Documenting Diversity, Long Island Press Journalism Awards and other programs offered through local middle and high schools provide enrichment for students.
- Hofstra Festivals - Our popular Dutch (May), Irish (March), Italian (September), Sinterklaas (December) and Shakespeare Festivals (March) are open to the public.
» Offering educational opportunities | more |
- Center for Continuing Education and Professional Advancement offers a broad range of workshops, seminars, conferences, lectures, events and courses to the surrounding communities.
- Hofstra University Summer Science Research Program - Gives selected high school students the opportunity to work with Hofstra science faculty.
- Stars on Sunday Series - Hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, this program invites the public to the Hofstra Observatory for stargazing and learning about the universe from our astronomy faculty.
- School of Education and Allied Human Services Programs
- Liberty Partnerships – Offered in collaboration with the New York State Education Department, this program provides 9th-12th grade at-risk students with a broad range of services.
- STEP and C-STEP – Hofstra participates in the New York State Education Department’s Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) and Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), which are designed to prepare disadvantaged students to enter and complete college.
- Teacher education programs – The School of Education and Allied Human Services annually sponsors or co-sponsors approximately 50 professional development conferences.
- IDEAS (Institute for the Development of Education in the Advanced Sciences) – Working with scientists from Long Island’s major research laboratories, IDEAS presents lectures and workshops that raise the visibility of advances in science and technology for educators and the general public.
- Wilbur F. Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies - The Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies offers a Training Program for Planning and Zoning Officials. The goal of the annual training program is to help planning and zoning officials better address land use decisions that have become increasing complex. The free program is intended to fulfill the new NYS requirement for four hours of continuing education for zoning and planning officials. Lawyers attending will also receive CLE credits.
» Providing facilities for civic events | more |
In the past year, Hofstra University has organized and hosted a range of events to promote government and public initiatives as well as solicit public feedback, including:
- Governor Spitzer's announcement on NYS Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness proposals
- NYS Commission on Local Government public hearings
- Public hearings on New York City congestion mitigation and affordable housing initiatives
- New York State Senator Kemp Hannon's Health and Awareness Day
- Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy's seminars on Medicare and Financial Aid
- Nassau County Youth Board's Annual Holiday Party for the youth in surrounding communities
» Guiding business and regional growth | more |
- Scott Skodnek Business Development Center - Offers free and low-cost programs such as lectures, workshops and management training for local business people.
- Wilbur F. Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies - Focusing on the complex issues facing the real estate industry, this center provides information, analysis and a forum for discussion for real estate professionals, municipal officials, developers and the public.
- Institute of Real Estate - Promotes professionalism and serves as a trusted source for real estate education, mentoring and networking for the real estate industry through conferences, educational programs and publications.
- National Center for Suburban Studies - Hosts public meetings and conferences on key issues related to suburban life, such as emergency preparedness, transportation and the need for affordable housing.
» Raising awareness and serving the community | more |
- Programs sponsored by Hofstra students include:
- Sinterklaas - At this annual festival, held in December, Hofstra's Greek organizations and student clubs come together for some holiday fun and to benefit the local Boys and Girls Club.
- The Inter-Fraternity Sorority Council holds a benefit show each year to raise funds to be used to commemorate those who died on 9/11.
- Autism Speaks - This initiative by SEGA and Kappa Delta Pi Theta Beta Chapter raises awareness and funds to support The Walk Now for Autism.
- Silent Walk for Domestic Violence raises awareness of domestic violence.
- The Accounting Society and Tax Society each year help local senior citizens complete their tax returns.
- Alternative spring break - Organized by Hofstra's Campus Catholic Parish and the Office of Student Leadership and Activities, this program offers students and administrators the opportunity to spend spring break working with a community in need - such as the victims of Hurricane Katrina or Native Americans on the Navajo Indian reservation in Bluff, Utah.
- Programs sponsored by Hofstra Pride Athletics include:
- Career Day - This event combines education about careers with a trip to a college basketball game for elementary school children.
- Think Pink Day - Hofstra Pride Women's Basketball program joins in a national effort to raise awareness of breast cancer.
- Learn more about the SAAC's outreach efforts
- Food services programs include:
- Feeding the hungry - Hofstra's food services works with Island Harvest, a local charitable organization, to rescue the University's surplus food and use it to provide for the hungry on Long Island.
- Habitat for Humanity
- About 20 Hofstra female employees recently teamed up to work on a Habitat for Humanity home in Bellport.
- Scott Skodnek Business Development Center
- Art Expressions Exhibit - Hofstra University co-hosts, with the Nassau County Department of Mental Health, an Art Expressions Exhibit. The event displays the work of artists who are being assisted by the county with chemical dependency and developmental disabilities. Hofstra has been proud to support this exhibit since 1997. This year, the exhibit has been expanded to include the work of children suffering with mental illness who attend programs throughout Nassau County.
» Providing scholarship opportunities | more |
- The Hagedorn Teacher Fellowship program - This program provides loans for undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence, financial need, a record of community service and a commitment to teaching in a high-needs school district.
- Hofstra for Hempstead/Hempstead for Hofstra scholarship program -Through this program scholarship funds are raised for deserving students from the Village of Hempstead.
- The Institute of Real Estate at Hofstra University
- Institute of Real Estate Scholarship Program - The Institute of Real Estate holds an annual scholarship luncheon and funds for the scholarship are also received from members of the Institute including the Association for a Better Long Island, the Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island and the Long Island Board of Realtors.
» Benefiting the community while educating students | more |
- Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center - Provides high-quality clinical services and early childhood education for Hofstra University employees and the surrounding community. It includes four clinics and a fully licensed early childhood program.
- Hofstra Law School clinics - Provide high-quality legal representation to clients in need.
- WRHU, Long Island's largest not-for-profit, community-based radio broadcast provides local and world news and a diverse array of programs to the surrounding community.
- Center for Civic Engagement - Sponsors events designed to encourage students to participate in the democratic process and to engage with their campus, local, state, national and global communities.