In 1987, students from Humboldt State University in California initiated a campus-wide campaign to create a voluntary Graduation Pledge showing students’ awareness of environmental and social consequences of any future employment opportunity.  Since then, Graduation Pledge efforts have spread from small liberal arts schools like Whitman and Skidmore to large private universities like Harvard and Stanford with Manchester College of Indiana at the forefront, coordinating all of these efforts.  Thanks to the efforts of Joe Barber, Director of the Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement, Trinity is fortunate enough to be a part of this national campaign. 

The Graduation Pledge reads:

“I ____________ pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.”

A pamphlet published by Manchester College states: “The Pledge operates at three levels: students making choices about their employment; schools educating about values and citizenship, rather than only knowledge and skills; and the workplace and society being concerned about more than just the bottom line.”  Each of us has been afforded a Trinity education and signing the Graduation Pledge simply demonstrates that we are willing to use what we have received at Trinity to better society.

A common misconception is that the pledge only applies to those seeking jobs in the non-profit sector.  Regardless of one’s chosen profession, each person can and should have a responsibility to be an active and engaged citizen.  Everyone can promote social and environmental responsibility in their jobs, however big or small that may be.  For example, some pledge signers have supported paper recycling programs, whereas others have boldly urged their bosses to refuse a chemical weapons-related contract.  The Graduation Pledge is completely voluntary and its implementation is up to the individual.

Neil Wollman, national pledge coordinator and professor of psychology at Manchester College, comments on the Graduation Pledge efforts: “Over a million seniors graduate every year.  If you have even a significant minority of graduates over the years who take this seriously, you could eventually have a significant impact on the workplace and on society.”  

For additional information about the graduation pledge, please visit:

http://www.graduationpledge.org/

Socially responsible jobs database

Links to help you find socially responsible jobs:

www.socialservice.com

www.studentjobs.gov

www.idealist.org

www.opportunityknocks.org

www.devnetjobs.org

www.naturalist.com/eco-jobs/

www.hri.ca/jobboard/

www.peacecorps.org