Degree Experience Includes Civic Engagement

Undergraduate Education Community Leadership Recognized

Aug 10, 2009

Five U.S. universities and colleges received an inaugural national award in 2009 for learning leadership focused on a degree experience with student community engagement.

Students at these higher education institutions earn more than a degree by participating in giving back to communities while enriching learning and the overall educational experience.

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars awarded its first civic engagement full awards to five institutions and provided another five honorable mention awards. The five award winners, chosen from 67 nominated universities and colleges, are Elon University, Wartburg College, Villanova University, Cabrini College and Tennessee State University.

Undergraduate Education Start of Community Engagement Degree Experience

North Carolina’s Elon University reports that 89% of its students participate in community outreach and service programs lead by the university as part of its overall educational program.

At Elon, 25 faculty taught 35 service-learning courses in an academic year, linking student learning with community engagement. In addition, Elon leads a college access program for low-income local high school students with academic promise and little or no family history of higher education.

Learning Leadership in Community Engagement at Wartburg College

Award winner Wartburg College provided the education leadership needed for its students to work with inpatient children at a hospital, do post-hurricane cleanup and construction in New Orleans and Galveston, assist people with disabilities in Florida and Texas and build and renovate homes in West Virginia.

At Tennessee State University, civic engagement activities are linked to the university’s motto, Think, Work and Service, and its charge, Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve. Tennessee State’s strategic vision integrates community service with teaching and research, engaging faculty, staff and students in meaningful community contributions.

Cabrini College, another national award winning institution, was among the first in higher education to implement community service into its curriculum. Cabrini was also the first higher education institution in the state of Pennsylvania to require community service of all undergraduate students.

Villanova University Takes Award for Massive Student Community Engagement

Villanova University, located in Pennsylvania, engages students in community service from the time of enrollment. Each year, students host and organize the largest annual student-run Special Olympics event in the world. During its 20th anniversary event in 2008, Villanova students worked to organize an event that drew more than 1,000 athletes, 400 coaches and 3,000 volunteers from the university’s student community.

American universities and colleges honored with the first national awards for student community engagement by The Washington Center have created cultures where the degree experience of each student includes working in service to community. The level of community involvement displayed by these institutions takes educational leadership, commitment and a passion for students to become community leaders.

The copyright of the article Degree Experience Includes Civic Engagement in American Universities is owned by Shelley Aylesworth-Spink. Permission to republish Degree Experience Includes Civic Engagement in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.