Image of Westcliff students at the beach on a sunny day
About Westcliff

Social Responsibility

Who We Are

We are warriors who care and understand that volunteer work offers an opportunity for our student, staff, faculty, alumni and communities to engage in activities that affect the common good of society. Through our community work, we gain valuable skills, understanding, and enhance the communities that we reside within.

The Social Responsibility Committee is a diverse group of individuals throughout the university that collaborate with neighboring community representatives and organizations. SRC exists to advance positive relations and to maintain consistent communication between the university and its communities. As a part of giving back, Westcliff is offering scholarships to designated non-profit partners and their communities in need. The SRC meets at least quarterly with attendance from the president and senior leadership once a year. Upcoming Committee Meetings are monthly on the second week of the month.

Be the change in the world you’d like to see, be a Warrior that Cares!

For more information and questions, contact: westcliffcares@westcliff.edu.

Ways to Get Involved

Upcoming Events

May Volunteer Month

Westcliff is supporting volunteerism in our community with a May focus. If you are a staff, student, faculty, or alumni, join in supporting our community by volunteering throughout the month of May. For those close to the Irvine main campus, we have set up 4 different opportunities for you to get involved. Participants* have the opportunity to make a difference with two of Westcliff’s supported Orange County nonprofits: Second Harvest – volunteers assist in the distribution center or can plant, harvest, weed, and maintain the fields at the farm, and Unlimited Possibilities – Pediatric Therapy Center, where volunteers work alongside children with disabilities on themed crafts.

*If you cannot volunteer on one of the dates listed below or shifts become full, volunteer for a local non-profit in your community.

  • Unlimited Possibilities Pediatric Therapy Center Crafting – May 9, 2023 at 2:00 to 5:00 PM  VIEW INSTAGRAM RECAP
  • Unlimited Possibilities Pediatric Therapy Center Crafting – May 18, 2023 at 2:00 to 5:00 PM RSVP HERE
  • Second Harvest Distribution Center Volunteer Outing – May 23, 2023 at 8:30 to 11:30 AM Register Here
  • Second Harvest Solutions Farm Volunteer Outing – May 25, 2023 at 7:30 to 11:00 AM Register Here

Please tag us at #westcliffcares and let us know how you supported your community or favorite nonprofit.

 

Previous Events

Second Harvest DonationsApril to May 2022


Innovation High School Backpack & Donation Event 


Second Harvest Walk to Feed OC Sunday, September 11th, 2022 – View Instagram Recap

Second Harvest Walk to Feed OC will take place during Hunger Action Month, this inaugural event will bring together people from all “walks” of life to help raise awareness about nutrition and food insecurity in Orange County. 


Limitless Dance Party Event for Unlimited Possibilities  – Saturday, October 1st, 2022 

Westcliff is honored to partner with Unlimited Possibilities as a participating sponsor at the Limitless Gala & Concert. Event proceeds will raise vital funds for continued innovation in treatment and care for children and families with disabilities cared for at Unlimited Possibilities. 


Volunteer Initiative – September and October 2022


Laura’s House 10th Annual Hope Golf TournamentMonday, November 7th, 2022


Year-End Giving Appeal for Laura’s House On-Campus November to December 31st, 2022

Reach out to for more information: westcliffcares@westcliff.edu


Microsoft TEALS Info Session Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 at 12:00 PM PDT

Technology Education and Learning Support (TEALS) is a Microsoft Philanthropies program that helps build sustainable computer science (CS) programs in high schools, with a focus on serving students historically excluded from learning CS because of race, gender, or geography. TEALS helps classroom educators learn to teach CS on their own by pairing them with in-person or remote volunteers* from the tech industry and proven curricula. Join the virtual info session and learn how you can make an impact in local high schools by volunteering with Microsoft TEALS.

*All students, staff, faculty, and alumni are welcome to volunteer for this opportunity – teaching experience is not necessary, only prior content knowledge of computer science is required. Established curriculum, training, and support are available for all volunteers.


Special Forces Sports Day Tuesday, March 21st, 2023Watch Spectrum News Clip & View Press Release 

Special Forces Sports Day is a free carnival-style event in which individual school districts will join us at a sports facility in Lake Forest* as students with disabilities are invited to play for the day in an inclusive environment with our athletes.


Life Without Limits Charity Golf Tournament for Unlimited Possibilities – Monday, April 24, 2023 – View Instagram Recap

Westcliff University is honored to partner with Unlimited Possibilities as a participating sponsor at the Life Without Limits Charity Golf Tournament. Event proceeds will go towards supporting Unlimited Possibilities’ mission of creating a limitless future for children and families with disabilities.


Microsoft TEALS Info Session Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 12:00 PM PDT

Technology Education and Learning Support (TEALS) is a Microsoft Philanthropies program that helps build sustainable computer science (CS) programs in high schools, with a focus on serving students historically excluded from learning CS because of race, gender, or geography. Join the virtual info session and learn how you can make an impact in local high schools by volunteering with Microsoft TEALS by clicking the link here.

*All students, staff, faculty, and alumni are welcome to volunteer for this opportunity – teaching experience is not necessary, only prior content knowledge of computer science is required. Established curriculum, training, and support are available for all volunteers.

Unlimited Possibilities

UCP-OC provides specialized care for more than 5,300 children and families each year. They are one of the only organizations in Orange County delivering comprehensive support for children with disabilities and their families. As such, the services they offer are critical to closing developmental gaps and empowering families to care for their child’s special needs.

Laura’s House

Laura’s House provides unduplicated domestic violence-related services to the 915,000 residents of Orange County, California and beyond. Annually, Laura’s House provides direct services to more than 3400 victims and their families through a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing, food and clothing, counseling, case management, legal advocacy services and education and prevention programs for youth. 

Second Harvest Food Bank

Second Harvest Food Bank is a purpose-driven organization that provides food for all who need it with a concentrated focus on vulnerable populations—children, working families, college students and seniors. They purchase nutritious food and shelf-stable items—and grow a portion of our own produce—for distribution through the Partner Network, which provides food at more than 250 locations throughout Orange County. This vital network includes houses of worship, school and college pantries, afterschool programs, Permanent School Pantries, senior centers, transitional housing facilities, soup kitchens and shelters for the unhoused.

Special Forces Sports Foundation

Special Forces Sports connects special needs students and high school athletes to create engaging and rewarding experiences. Nothing But Nets is an after-school sports experience in partnership with club sports organizations to bring inclusive sports programming to communities. ​Special Forces Sports Days are free carnival-style events in partnership with individual school districts where students with special needs from all over the district are invited to play for the day in an inclusive environment.​

Special Olympics Southern California

Special Olympics Southern California provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

Mission Academy 

Mission Academy uses a Personalized Learning charter school model that allows the learning program to be tailored to each student’s individual needs and interests. As a tuition-free, public charter school, Mission Academy provides a rigorous and personalized curriculum in a highly interactive learning environment for students in grades 6 through 12. Students engage in a variety of virtual workbooks, course discussion boards, blogs and other multimedia instruction, while receiving one-on-one attention from a highly-qualified staff of teachers and advisors. All coursework is completed online and students can enroll at any time. At Mission Academy, students are able to earn a fully-accredited high school diploma that is transferable to a community college, university, the military, as well as prepare them to go directly into the workforce.

Innovation High School

The mission of Orange County Innovation High School is to engage students in learning, who are no longer enrolled in a traditional classroom program or who prefer a personalized learning education. Orange County Innovation High School’s goal is to successfully prepare students for work or college readiness through the integrated personalized program of job readiness coursework and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act partnerships. Orange County Innovation High School believes that students must be ready to work with others from diverse backgrounds, adapt to changes and lead others through transformational processes. 

Women in Tech

Women in Tech® is an international non-profit organization on a mission to promote girls’ and women’s empowerment around the world. They are a Global Movement with chapters in 6 continents and create impact through action to build skills and confidence, setting women up for success. The organization focuses on 4 primary areas that are a call for action: Education, Business, Social Inclusion, and Advocacy. The aim is to educate, equip and empower women and girls with the necessary skills and confidence to succeed in STEM careers.

Race for a Cure

supported in part by WU Athletics Games and Meets

It’s time to show our Warrior spirit and support a cause! Westcliff University Athletics will be hosting Pink Games during the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Donations can be made during select games and will go directly towards ACS’s efforts to end cancer as we know it today through their research and education programs.

Past Pink Games (Breast Cancer Awareness)

  • October 2nd, 2022 – Men’s/Women’s Soccer
  • October 15th, 2022 – Women’s Volleyball
  • October 27th, 2022 – Men’s Water Polo