Cardinal Service
Cardinal Service consists of four programs that are designed to be transformative for students and beneficial to the community:
- Cardinal Quarter
- Cardinal Courses
- Cardinal Commitment
- Cardinal Careers

Cardinal Quarter
Build knowledge, skills, and networks while making meaningful contributions to communities locally, nationally, and across the globe.
Cardinal Quarter offers you the opportunity to participate in a full-time, quarter-long, funded public service experience designed to integrate your academic learning with field-based experience. You can pursue prearranged placements or self-designed opportunities in both domestic and international settings. Nearly 500 opportunities are offered each year through more than 30 campus partners involved in the Cardinal Quarter initiative.
Visit Cardinal Quarter on the Cardinal Service website
Cardinal Commitment
Cardinal Commitment supports and honors students’ individual sustained public service.
Making a Cardinal Commitment means engaging with a community to address a problem or need for at least three quarters while you’re at Stanford. You’ll develop a personal mission statement describing your commitment, receive advice and guidance from a mentor or supervisor, and spend some time documenting and reflecting on your service experience.
Make a Cardinal Commitment—develop your civic identity, learn public service skills, and see the impact sustained public service can have on a community, an issue, and you!
Visit Cardinal Commitment on the Cardinal Service website