History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 49

49

Center for Leadership
and Service
The Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) evolved from the volunteer
student organization, Gators Involved in Volunteer Endeavors (GIVE), in 1992.
GIVE’s mission, to increase volunteerism at UF through group community
service projects, resulted in a steady increase of service projects and student
participants. An analysis of GIVE’s activities in 1997-1998 revealed the program’s
effectiveness in stimulating group service projects. However, GIVE was less
effective at providing a volunteer clearinghouse for UF, a service that was in
demand.
The Office of Student Activities established the TreeHouse in 1998 to serve as
the campus clearinghouse for volunteerism. An assistant director of student
activities was assigned to oversee the TreeHouse and its staff of student
volunteers. Its mission was to foster an atmosphere of giving and community
on the UF campus through involving volunteers in civic leadership. In 2000,
TreeHouse was renamed the Office of Community Service (OCS), to reflect more
accurately its function as the volunteer service center on campus.
Some of the major responsibilities of the office included volunteer development,
community relations and outreach, service learning, and providing opportunities
for community involvement. Long-range goals, objectives, and implementation
steps were drafted at this time to guide the development of the OCS. In 2005,
the Office of Community Service was bound for further change. The physical
office location was moved from the Office of Student Activities to the Dean
of Students Office as part of the new Center for Leadership and Service. The
organizational change stemmed from the recognition of the need for an office
that brings the related components of service learning, student volunteerism,
and leadership development into a coherent, inclusive experience for students.
In 2009, the CLS became its own department and was no longer a part of the
Dean of Students Office. Summer 2010, the CLS moved to Peabody Hall. Spring
2016, the CLS moved to new space in the Reitz Union.

Department histor ies : Center for leader ship a n d service