Changing the World

Rockford College believes that each person has the ability to change the world.

Alan Hutchcroft Alternative Spring Break

For the past 15 years, Rockford College has partnered with Habitat for Humanity through their program, the Collegiate Challenge. The Alan Hutchcroft Alternative Spring Break (AHASB), named in honor of the late Dr. Alan Hutchcroft, Rockford College Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, provides an alternative to more traditional spring break activities and has become an important part of the Rockford College experience. During the challenge, students travel to Starkville, Miss. and start work on the incredible task of building a home for a family in need.

Past participants hold special memories of their Collegiate Challenge experience and some describe it as life-changing. Each trip provides a unique experience to serve the community of Starkville, Miss. Due to the hard work of Rockford College students, we have an incredible reputation with Habitat for Humanity—the amount of work that the group accomplishes in one short week is astonishing! Building a home for a family is the main focus of the Collegiate Challenge, but the trip is much more than that—it’s about working together for a common goal, and along the way, having fun and building friendships! Learn more about AHASB.

The energy surrounding this trip is exactly what we are all about. Opportunity. The opportunity to change your world, to change the life of another, to truly make a difference is right here at Rockford College. What other opportunities await students?

The Plunge

One of the first experiences students enjoy during orientation is The Plunge. Community work is done all around the Rockford area, showing Rockford College’s support for our community and providing yet another opportunity for students to build connections with one another. It is a fun way to make a difference and make new friends! The Plunge is sponsored by the Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement.

Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement

The Jane Addams Center for Civic Engagement, or JACCE as we fondly call it, is our one-stop shop for civic involvement. Being civically engaged is not just about volunteering. It is about awareness of the community around you, about the world, and about your responsibility to get involved. Whether your student is reminding community members to vote in the next election, running a donation drive or building a canned good castle to feed the hungry, your student will understand his or her civic duty. There are also scholarship opportunities within the JACCE for those that would like to stretch their leadership muscles! Jane Addams Service Fellows and M3C Fellows are an excellent way to get involved – you and your student can find out more.