Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers about using the Scorecard, logging Impacts, earning points, the NextGen Civic Leader Badge, troubleshooting, and bringing the Scorecard to groups or courses.
Find the answer you need.
Select a question below to view the answer. If you are new to the Scorecard and want a simple walkthrough, start with the Scorecard Guide.
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New to the Scorecard?
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Ready to Participate?
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Using the Scorecard
Find your starting point and learn the basics of participating.
What is the Civic Health Scorecard?
The Civic Health Scorecard helps you discover civic and community engagement opportunities, document what you are already doing, reflect on what you are learning, and see how your experiences connect over time.
It includes Civic Actions across five categories and gives you a growing record of your participation throughout your UW experience.
Who can participate?
The Civic Health Scorecard is designed for UW students interested in exploring and documenting civic and community engagement during their UW experience.
How do I access the Civic Health Scorecard?
Go to uw.givepulse.com and sign in using your UW NetID.
You can then go directly to the Civic Health Scorecard:
Open the Civic Health Scorecard →
Need more help getting started? Use the Civic Health Scorecard Guide →
What counts as civic engagement?
More than you might think. Civic engagement can include volunteering, voting, participating in dialogue, supporting your community, engaging with arts and culture, caring for the environment, learning about public issues, participating in organizations, and many other ways of contributing to civic and community life.
The Scorecard includes five categories: Civic Dialogue, Democratic Engagement, Environmental & Land Stewardship, Community Well-Being, and Arts & Culture.
Do I have to complete every category?
No. There is no single required path through the Scorecard. Choose Civic Actions that connect with your interests, experiences, communities, or goals.
Where do I find Civic Actions and upcoming events?
Open the Civic Health Scorecard to browse Civic Actions across the five categories. Each Civic Action explains what you will do and any documentation you may need.
Can something I already did count?
Possibly. Browse the existing Civic Actions to see whether one fits your experience. If it does, review the action's requirements before submitting your Impact.
If your experience is not represented by an existing Civic Action, you can suggest a new one.
Impacts, Reflections & Points
Document your participation and build your Scorecard record.
What is an Impact?
An Impact is the record you submit after completing a Civic Action. It documents your participation and connects that experience with your Civic Health Scorecard.
Depending on the action, you may enter the time you spent, provide documentation, and complete a short reflection.
Should I click “Register” or “Add Impact”?
Choose Add Impact — not Register.
After completing a Civic Action, return to the specific Civic Action through the Civic Health Scorecard and select Add Impact.
Register is not how you submit a completed Scorecard action.
How do I add my Impact?
Return to the specific Civic Action you completed and select Add Impact.
Follow the prompts to enter the requested information, complete your reflection, and provide any required documentation.
What should I write in my reflection?
Use three simple questions:
What? What happened? What did you do or experience?
So What? Why did it matter? What did you learn, contribute, notice, or better understand?
Now What? What will you carry forward or do next?
Your reflection does not need to sound formal. Focus on your actual experience and why it mattered.
What documentation do I need?
Documentation requirements vary by Civic Action. Open the specific action and check its instructions to see what, if anything, you need to submit.
It is a good idea to check the requirements before participating so you know what to save.
How do I receive Scorecard points?
Complete a Civic Action and submit an Impact according to the instructions on that action's page.
Points help track your participation as you complete and document Civic Actions. Reaching 250 points fulfills the Scorecard requirement for the NextGen Civic Leader Badge.
Where can I see the Impacts I have logged?
Return to the Civic Health Scorecard and your GivePulse account to review the participation you have documented and track your progress.
NextGen Civic Leader Badge
Connect your Scorecard with a significant civic leadership experience.
What is the NextGen Civic Leader Badge?
The NextGen Civic Leader Badge recognizes your development as a civic leader across your UW experience.
To earn the Badge, complete 250 points on your Civic Health Scorecard and engage in and reflect on a 100+ hour Centerpiece Activity.
Do I need 250 points before starting my Centerpiece Activity?
No. You can complete the two requirements in either order. You do not need to reach 250 Scorecard points before beginning or completing your Centerpiece Activity.
What is a Centerpiece Activity?
A Centerpiece Activity is a significant experience of 100 hours or more in which you practice civic leadership and community engagement.
Examples may include an internship, volunteering, RSO leadership, research, a capstone project, advocacy, study abroad, participation on an athletic team, or another significant experience that meets the Badge criteria.
Can my 100 Centerpiece hours happen over time?
Yes. Your Centerpiece Activity does not need to happen all at once. The hours can accumulate over time as part of a significant and cohesive experience.
Does my Centerpiece Activity have to be academic?
No. Your Centerpiece does not have to be connected with a course or completed for academic credit.
What matters is that the experience meets the Centerpiece requirements, including 100+ hours and meaningful opportunities to practice and reflect on civic leadership and community engagement.
Where do I submit my Centerpiece Activity Reflection?
Complete the Centerpiece Activity Reflection using the NextGen Civic Leader Badge reflection form.
Where can I see my Badge progress?
You can view your NextGen Civic Leader Badge and check your progress on the Badge page in GivePulse.
Courses, Cohorts & Groups
Bring the Scorecard & NextGen Civic Leader Badge into an existing student learning or engagement experience.
Can I request a Scorecard and NextGen Badge workshop for my group?
Yes. Faculty, staff, student leaders, and campus partners can request a workshop introducing students to the Civic Health Scorecard and NextGen Civic Leader Badge.
A workshop can help students understand the Scorecard, explore Civic Actions, learn how to document their experiences, and see how their participation can connect with the NextGen Civic Leader Badge.
Can the Scorecard be integrated into a course, cohort, or program?
Yes. The CELE Center can work with faculty, staff, and program leaders to identify meaningful ways to connect the Civic Health Scorecard and NextGen Civic Leader Badge with experiences students are already having.
The goal is to build on existing learning and participation rather than add another layer of assignments. Integration might connect course or cohort experiences with Civic Actions, reflection, Scorecard points, or progress toward the NextGen Civic Leader Badge.
What is the difference between a workshop and course/cohort integration?
A workshop is a focused introduction to the Civic Health Scorecard and NextGen Civic Leader Badge for a group of students.
Course or cohort integration goes deeper. CELE works with you to identify places where the Scorecard can connect naturally with your existing curriculum, program activities, reflection, or student experiences.
If you are looking for a one-time introduction, request a workshop. If you want to incorporate the Scorecard into an ongoing learning experience, request course or cohort integration.
How do I request course or cohort integration?
Use the Course/Cohort Integration request form to tell us about your course, cohort, program, or other student learning experience.
After you submit the form, a CELE Center staff member will follow up to discuss potential connections and next steps.
Suggest an Action or Event
Help expand the opportunities students can discover through the Civic Health Scorecard.
Can I suggest a new Civic Action?
Yes. If you know about an ongoing activity, resource, program, or opportunity that should be represented in the Civic Health Scorecard, submit it for consideration.
Can I submit an upcoming event?
Yes. Submit a dated event that connects with civic learning, leadership, dialogue, community engagement, public service, or another Scorecard area.
What is the difference between a Civic Action and an Upcoming Event?
A Civic Action is generally an ongoing activity, resource, program, or opportunity students can complete.
An Upcoming Event takes place on a specific date or during a defined period of time.
If you are sharing something with a specific date and time, use the Upcoming Event form.
Troubleshooting
Quick answers for common Scorecard problems.
I can't find the Civic Health Scorecard.
Make sure you are signed in at uw.givepulse.com using your UW NetID.
You can then use the direct link:
I don't see the event I'm looking for.
First, check the Scorecard's upcoming events page.
If the event is not listed and connects with civic or community engagement, you can submit it for consideration.
I can't find a Civic Action that fits what I'm doing.
Browse the five Scorecard categories first. Your experience may fit an existing Civic Action that is broader than the specific program or activity you are completing.
If you still cannot find an appropriate action, you can suggest a new one.
I submitted an Impact but don't see the points I expected.
Return to the Civic Action and review its requirements. Confirm that you used Add Impact from the correct Civic Action and included any requested information or documentation.
If you still need help, review the Scorecard Guide.
I don't know what documentation to submit.
Open the specific Civic Action and review its instructions. Documentation requirements vary by action, so use the requirements listed on that Civic Action's page.
I'm stuck on the reflection.
Keep it simple:
What? What happened?
So What? Why did it matter?
Now What? What will you carry forward or do next?
Your reflection does not need to be formal. Focus on your actual experience and why it mattered.
Guides & Help
Find additional help when you need it.
Where can I find the Scorecard Guide?
The Civic Health Scorecard Guide provides a simple walkthrough for finding a Civic Action, participating, adding your Impact, and reflecting on your experience.
Is my CommunityConnectUW profile public?
Review your account and privacy settings in CommunityConnectUW/GivePulse to see and manage the profile information associated with your account.
What if I still need help?
Start with the Civic Health Scorecard Guide for help using the Scorecard. For questions about the NextGen Civic Leader Badge, use the Badge page and Badge Guide. Still stuck? Email celecenter@uw.edu
Find what you need.
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Find something that matters to you.
Explore Civic Actions, document your experiences, and build your civic engagement record one experience at a time.