Leadership at Mercer
Who are Mercer Service Scholars?
Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration, motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by conviction, ignited by purpose.
Myles Munroe
The Mercer Service Scholars (MSS) program is founded upon the belief that gifted, motivated college students bring vision, energy, intellect, and hope to our communities, locally and globally. It is also founded on the belief that students are transformed by working in a program whose focus on the common good gives them a sense of purpose and meaning.
Each year, a few select entering students or rising sophomores are invited to become Mercer Service Scholars. They are selected because each has demonstrated a genuine desire to serve. Each has expressed a desire to hone his or her leadership skills while attending college. All want to make a difference in this world.
MSS is a dynamic program that engages diverse students in substantive service to local and international communities, while preparing students to become leaders on campus, in their professions, and in their communities.
While at Mercer, Service Scholars take selected classes together, form bonds with one another, and learn how to become change agents in the world. In addition to participating in unique service-learning and leadership course work, Service Scholars are singled out for special attention and programs with leadership professionals and community leaders. The University also provides the funds to send Service Scholars on a Mercer on Mission service-learning trip abroad, tuition free.
Those who complete the four-year program will graduate with an exceptional portfolio of skills, experiences, insights, and responsibilities that will distinguish them among their peers and prepare them for success in professional and graduate school or the workplace. Their hands-on achievements as problem-solvers, team leaders, and innovators will be backed with a deep understanding of the social and political challenges that face us at home and globally. Service Scholars will step forth as Mercer graduates who are prepared to act and lead, as well as to think and to know.
Requirements
MSS is a trans-disciplinary program that uses extensive community service to enhance traditional classroom learning in any traditional academic discipline (e.g. engineering, business, education, music, the sciences, or the humanities).
Students serve and learn by working in cohorts made up of fellow service scholars, staff and faculty members, human service professionals, community and national leaders, field supervisors and community partners. In addition to their academic training, MSS cohorts receive leadership training while working on projects in the neighborhood or abroad. Students become, in effect, part of a service-learning community designed to strengthen human communities, meet individual and social needs, promote intercultural literacy, and enhance their development as leaders, citizens and neighbors.
Once accepted, Mercer Service Scholars commit to a series of expectations:
- Participate in regular leadership training (approximately 10 hours per semester) and an annual Leadership Retreat
- Participate in a Mercer on Mission project abroad or alternate service-learning project locally (usually between the sophomore and junior year)
- Earn a minor in the “Program in Leadership and Service”
- Participate in one freshman/sophomore service weekend project each semester
- Create and implement a culminating individual or team community-based project (locally or abroad) during the junior and senior years
Students must maintain a GPA of 3.5 at the end of the sophomore year and have fulfilled their leadership and service-learning projects in order to be eligible for the Mercer on Mission trip and continuation in the program. Students must complete the junior/senior community-based project in order to graduate as a Mercer Service Scholar and receive recognition upon graduation.
Becoming a Mercer Service Scholar
The Mercer Service Scholars is a highly-selective program for exceptional undergraduate students with a passion for service and a talent for leadership. The program selects 10 to 15 highly motivated incoming freshman or rising sophomores each year to participate. MSS is a four-year program that focuses these selected students on making a difference on campus, in the Macon community, and in the world.
Students receive information through the Office of University Admissions and apply prior to their freshman year or are nominated by faculty members at the end of their freshman year. Applications for the freshman class are due by July 3. Interviews will be conducted by phone. Download application forms and recommendation forms below.
Faculty and Staff Contacts
Mary Alice Morgan
Senior Vice-Provost for Service-Learning
(478) 301-5422
Chris Grant, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science
Director, Mercer Service Scholars
(
478) 301-5519
Jeremy Baham
Associate Dean of Students
Associate Director, Mercer Service Scholars
(478) 301-2685