Stanford offers a wide range of resources to get you involved in civic life, whether you're looking to join a student group, find an internship, or connect with programs and centers dedicated to civic and democratic engagement. From hands-on opportunities to long-term pathways, explore below the many different ways you can engage on campus and beyond.
Programs, Internships & Fellowships
Campus Programs
Explore campus programs designed to strengthen your civic skills, leverage research for public impact, and develop connections to policymaking, law clinics, and effective governance.
Cardinal Service Internships
Cardinal Service is a campus-wide initiative offering more than 500 public service internships to Stanford students. Explore further to find internships focused on civics, policy, and government.
Postgraduate Fellowships
Explore postgraduate fellowships that provide opportunities to work with public sector partners and are designed to support students' pathways to government service.
Student Groups
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy is a recently formed national organization of law students, legal professionals, scholars, and judges. At Stanford, ACS operates in association with Stanford Law School’s student organizations.
The Associated Students of Stanford University was created in 1891 and is the only organization at Stanford of which every student is a member.
Stanford’s annual academic holiday for civic celebration with events meant to increase civic reflection and participation through dialogue, community-building, and public service
Stanford Law School students have access to more than 50 student-led organizations, including Stanford Immigration and Human Rights Law Association; and more.
SPU is a non-partisan student organization dedicated to fostering constructive dialogue at Stanford University
StanfordVotes is a non-partisan, university-wide, student-run organization to foster civic engagement and voter turnout
The goal of the Stanford College Republicans is to serve as a broad-based organization for all Republicans, including moderates, conservatives, and libertarians, on the Stanford campus
As the representation of the Democratic party at Stanford, Stanford Democrats fight for progressive causes through education, engagement, and activism
Stanford in Government (SIG) aims to create a culture of civic and political engagement at Stanford by offering opportunities for students to engage with and pursue policy as public service
UNA-USA Stanford is dedicated to cultivate an ethic of global citizenship amongst Stanford students, through direct engagement with UN Agencies and constructive dialogue.
The Institute of Politics at Stanford inspires students to be civically engaged and democratically focused by preparing undergraduates to become future leaders and explore pathways in government service.
Education & Democracy United is a nationwide coalition of students, faculty, and staff organizing to protect academic freedom and advocate for greater transparency and accountability on college campuses.
The Federalist Society is a group of libertarians and conservatives interested in the current state of the legal order. The Federalist Society is part of the vibrant community of student-led organizations at Stanford Law School.
The mission of the Government and Politics club is to provide a space for students to understand and learn how to work with the government and public sphere to create impact at scale
We are a group of students, faculty, and staff advancing the Abundance Agenda, a political movement focused on institutional reform, so government can actually deliver for people.
SWIP is a community of women passionate about political, social, and legal public service and reform
The Stanford Daily is the independent, student-run newspaper of Stanford University covering breaking news, sports, the arts, and more
Founded in 1987, The Stanford Review is Stanford's Independent Newspaper aiming to present alternative views on a wide range of issues
Civic Engagement Hubs
Haas Center for Public Service
Connecting Stanford students with opportunities to serve communities locally, nationally, and around the world
Stanford in Washington
Serving as both home and classroom to undergraduates and faculty at our Washington DC campus
Otero Public Service & Civic Engagement House
Living in community dedicated to public service and civic engagement
Levin Center for Public Service & Public Interest Law
Advancing pursuits of justice and equity through current and future public interest and public service leadership