News

For the second year in a row, Rutgers University in Newark has been named to the  President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) recognized 511 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice by naming them to the annual Honor Roll award. Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors, including the scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

“To be recognized by the federal government for our community engagement is a great honor,” stated Steven J. Diner, chancellor of Rutgers University in Newark. “It is a validation of the many years of commitment and outreach by dedicated faculty, staff and students working with agencies and individuals, engaging in research and instruction, and forming partnerships and valuable relationships within the communities of Newark and its neighbors.”

Rutgers-Newark provides tens of thousands of hours of community service through its legal clinics, mentorship programs such as RU Ready for Work, and academic enrichment programs like Future Scholars. More details about Rutgers-Newark’s community engagement initiatives can be found at http://www.newark.rutgers.edu/community.

“Congratulations to Rutgers-Newark and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, chief executive officer of CNCS.  “We salute all the Honor Roll awardees for embracing their civic mission and providing opportunities for their students to tackle tough national challenges through service.”

College students make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector. In 2009, 3.2 million students performed some 307 million hours of service — service valued at more than $6.4 billion — according to the CNCS.  On campuses across the country, thousands of students joined their faculty to develop innovative programs and projects to meet local needs using the skills gained in their classrooms. Business students served as consultants to budget-strapped nonprofits and businesses, law students volunteered at legal clinics, and dozens of others organized anti-hunger campaigns.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a strong partner with the nation’s colleges and universities in supporting community service and service-learning.  Last year, CNCS provided more than $215 million in support to institutions of higher education, including grants to operate service programs and the Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for college tuition and student loan repayment.  CNCS is a catalyst for service-learning programs nationwide that connect community service with academic curricula. Through these programs, in classes, and in extracurricular activities, college students serve their communities while strengthening their academic and civic skills. 

CNCS oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education.

Visit http://www.learnandserve.gov/about/programs/higher_ed_honorroll.asp for a full list of Honor Roll recipients.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.