In 1996, Dr. Dale Brougher, then Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, now known as the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and Associate Professor of Religion, spearheaded a Community Service Committee within the structure of the college to explore the possibilities of service and engagement on the University of Findlay campus. Dr. Brougher invited Maile Doyle, then director of the United Way of Findlay/Hancock County’s Volunteer Center, to help shape a vision of service for the campus community. Through much deliberation, the Community Service Committee concluded that the group would structurally function to model a non-profit board in order to encourage maximum community engagement with the service initiative. The group then elected Ms. Doyle and Dr. Brougher as the first co-chairs of the newly formed Campus Compact Board which was charged with providing leadership, vision, support, advice, and a strategic plan to the service program in order to integrate a philosophy of service into the life of the campus community.
In 1998, Findlay joined the
Ohio Campus Compact and
National Campus Compact and subsequently the University of Findlay Campus Compact Center was created.
In 2001, the title of the office was changed to the Campus Compact Center for Service and Learning to reflect the evolving structure of the service initiative.
The University of Findlay's Campus Compact Center has hosted several
AmeriCorps*VISTAs who have worked tirelessly to advance the civic engagement initiatives (especially those related to poverty).
Some of the service initiatives that they helped to implement have included Alternative Spring Break trips, UF Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter, Orientation Service Project, Raise Your Voice Campaign, Martin Luther King A Day On Service Project, Walking School Bus, Bring a Senior Friend to Thanksgiving Dinner (co-sponsored by Sodexo Dining Services), Valentine's Day Party and Food Drive (co-sponsored by the Student Activities/Commuter Student Services Office), Sweet Service Saturdays, the Relay for Life Inspiration Project, mobile food pantries, September 11th Day of Remembrance and Service, and the re-activation of Circle K.
In the Fall of 2012, Campus Compact moved to the division of Student Affairs.
In the Fall of 2014, the Campus Compact Center rebranded to become the University of Findlay's Office of Service and Community Engagement. Also, the office changed locations to the Buford Center for Diversity and Service, located at 1222 N. Cory St.
Since moving locations, the office has collaborated with the Office of Intercultural Student Services and the Office of International Education with many initiatives, including expanding service to other countries through Oilers Serving Abroad and Pursuing Cultural Humility initiative with local community partners.