Our Mission
Connecting campus with community.
The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (OCOE) enriches campus and community life by advancing meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships that support community-based learning and contribute to building a more equitable, thriving, and resilient Southern Maryland.
The office launched in August 2024 to help implement the goals of SMCM’s strategic plan, The Rising Tide, which calls for the College to “become a sought-after regional resource and develop opportunities for student educational engagement with communities that are mutually beneficial.”

OCOE fosters collaboration between SMCM students, faculty, staff and the community beyond our campus borders. We provide a space for the creation and exchange of knowledge and resources by:
- Developing and maintaining partnerships with community organizations, institutions and businesses
- Working with our Community Engagement Council to assess community needs
- Providing information to community members about campus events, programs and resources
- Connecting students with volunteer opportunities that align with their academic and personal interests and contribute to their sense of civic responsibility
- Working with faculty, staff, and community partners to develop community-engaged curriculum and co-curricular learning experiences
- Promoting civic engagement through participation in democratic processes and public policy-making

For Students
Explore what it means to be an active, engaged citizen. Find meaning through service. Learn through hands-on, real-world experiences that prepare you for lifelong success.
For Faculty & Staff
Work with community partners to build engaged learning into your coursework and activities and to enhance the student experience. Serve alongside others, build long-lasting and impactful relationships and help meet SMCM’s commitment to being an anchor institution in the region.


For Community Partners
Interested in engaging with our students, faculty and staff? Reach out to us with your project ideas.
Civic Engagement & Voting
In partnership with the Center for the Study of Democracy and the Multicultural Programs Office, we support programs that encourage participation in civic life. We promote respectful dialogue about current affairs; advocacy and activism on local, state, national and global issues; voter registration and education and voting in every election.
