Our Foundation in Faith, Scholarship, and Service
The Office of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships reflects Bethune-Cookman University's long-standing dedication to Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune's threefold mission of faith, scholarship, and service. For more than 120 years, this institution has served as a symbol of hope and change—not just for our students, but also for the communities we serve. Dr. Bethune recognized that proper education goes beyond personal growth to include community upliftment. In her Last Will and Testament, she declared: "I leave you love. Love builds. It is positive and helpful...Our aim must be to create a world of fellowship and justice where no man's skin, color, or religion is held against him."
This philosophy of love in action continues to inspire our efforts under the visionary leadership of President Dr. Albert E. Mosley. Through his "BCU Rising: All of Us All In" initiative, Dr. Mosley has encouraged every member of our community- students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners- to come together in service of our shared mission. Our office acts as the central hub for this vital work, connecting the intellectual resources of our university with the urgent needs of our community.
Dr. Bethune's Three-Fold Mission:
1. Faith: “The Spiritual Foundation of Community Engagement”
Dr. Bethune proclaimed in her Last Will and Testament: "I leave you faith. Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible. Faith in God is the greatest power, but great, too, is faith in oneself."
Our work in community engagement is grounded in this unwavering faith; faith in God's calling to serve, faith in our institution's capacity to transform communities, faith in our students' potential to become change agents, and faith in the resilience and strength of the communities we serve. We approach every partnership with hope and moral conviction, believing that through sustained effort and divine guidance, we can create the more just and equitable world Dr. Bethune envisioned.
2. Scholarship: “The Intellectual Foundation of Community Engagement”
Community engagement at BCU is not separate from academic excellence—it embodies it. We combine rigorous scholarship with community-based learning, ensuring students connect classroom knowledge to real-world challenges while researching community-identified needs. Our faculty pursue community-based scholarship that enhances both academic understanding and community well-being. We believe true scholarship involves analyzing complex social problems, developing innovative solutions, and communicating effectively across diverse communities.
3. Service: “The Practical Foundation of Community Engagement”
Dr. Bethune declared: "If I have a legacy to leave my people, it is my philosophy of living and serving." She further charged us: "I leave you a responsibility to our young people...They must not be discouraged from aspiring toward greatness, for they are to be the leaders of tomorrow." Service is the foundation of our identity and the practical expression of our faith and scholarship. Following Dr. Bethune's example of selfless dedication, we believe that serving others is both a privilege and a responsibility. We cultivate authentic, reciprocal relationships with community organizations, rooted in mutual respect, shared goals, and ongoing commitment. Our partnerships benefit both the university and the Daytona Beach community, creating what Dr. Bethune called a "world of fellowship and justice." Through service-learning, volunteerism, civic engagement, and strategic partnerships, we cultivate students who recognize that leadership is synonymous with service and that knowledge is put into action.
Our Mission
The Office of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships furthers Bethune-Cookman University's sacred mission of developing global leaders dedicated to service, lifelong learning, and diversity by forming mutually beneficial partnerships with community organizations, integrating service-learning into our academic programs, and fostering socially conscious, civically engaged leaders who recognize their obligation to uplift their communities.
Our Vision
Bethune-Cookman University will be recognized as the nation's leading institution for community engagement, serving as a model of how higher education institutions can act as catalysts for community transformation while developing servant leaders dedicated to social justice. Building on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune's 120-year legacy and supporting President Dr. Albert E. Mosley's "BCU Rising: All of Us All In" initiative, we envision a future where every Wildcat graduate embodies Dr. Bethune's values of love, hope, faith, dignity, and responsibility, armed with the knowledge, skills, and moral courage to address the most urgent issues facing their communities.
