May 18, 2011
St.
John’s University has been named to the 2010 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, for the
second straight year.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, who
administer the annual Honor Roll award, recognizes higher education
institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service
and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. The
Corporation 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.
The Honor Roll includes six colleges and universities that are
recognized as Presidential Awardees, with additional institutions
named to the Distinction List and named as Honor Roll members.
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.
The formal announcement for the 2010 President's Higher
Education Community Service Honor Roll was made on May 12 with a
press conference held on May 16. The entire Honor Roll list is
available at www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll/
along with descriptions of the top honorees.
One of St. John’s University’s bold initiatives is its
Vincentian Institute for Social Action (“VISA”) program. VISA
encourages collaboration by areas and units throughout the
university community – all colleges and schools, student life, and
campus ministry – in activities designed to advance the Vincentian
commitment to social justice and systemic change. Students have the
opportunity to combine study in their academic discipline with
service and experience that helps them develop the knowledge and
skills necessary to make a difference in the lives of those in
need.
VISA is comprised of four interrelated units: a newly
constituted Faculty Research Consortium; the Ozanam Scholars
Program; Academic Service Learning; and a re-established St. John’s
University Press.
About The Corporation for National and Community Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal
agency that engages more 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.
For more information contact Dominic Scianna, Assistant Vice
President for Media Relations by calling (718) 990-6185 or e-mail
inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.