April 13, 2012
Recognized for its commitment to assisting communities and people in need, St. John’s is one of only 110 American colleges and universities admitted with distinction to the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
The Honor Roll annually commends colleges and universities that demonstrate leadership in promoting student, faculty and staff participation in volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement with “measurable outcomes.” The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), part of the U.S. government’s Office of the Inspector General, launched this program in 2006.
This is St. John’s sixth straight year on the Honor Roll — its first with distinction. “It’s a wonderful, external validation of the mission-centered focus of our faculty, students and administrators,” said Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission and Student Services. “They are all to be congratulated for advancing the University’s values through volunteering, teaching and community-based research.”
“Congratulations to St. John’s University, its faculty and students for their enduring commitment to making service a priority in and out of the classroom,” said Robert Velasco II, Chief Operating Officer, CNCS. “Together, service and learning increase civic engagement while fostering social innovation among students — empowering them to solve challenges in their communities.”
Cited for its dedication to general community service, St. John’s earned special recognition for its focus on creating a six-week summer program that engaged disadvantaged middle school students in protecting the environment.
The University’s Vincentian Institute for Social Action (VISA) won a competitive, $90,000 federal “ Learn and Serve America” award to fund the program. In July and August 2010, 150 low-income students from five local middle schools came to the Queens campus, where they learned about improving the environment by volunteering in local recycling and conservation efforts.
St. John’s created the Institute to more visibly embed its Catholic, Vincentian mission in every student’s education. The goal is to blend new and ongoing programs that empower students, faculty and staff to fight poverty and injustice through teaching, research and service.
These initiatives also received Honor Roll recognition:
In partnership with New York City’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the Advantage Academy helps currently and formerly homeless individuals pursue an associate degree in business administration at St. John’s. Admission is based on prior academic achievement. The University covers tuition, textbooks, laptops, counseling and career advisement. The city subsidizes housing, transportation and child care.
Academic Service-Learning is central to a St. John’s education. Advancing the University’s Vincentian mission, professors integrate course-related volunteer activities into their classes. This past year, 4,359 students logged some 96,833 service hours at 125 agencies and organizations throughout New York City and Long Island.
The four-year Ozanam Scholars Program combines hands-on, community-based volunteering with courses and research. Admission, which includes an annual scholarship of up to $10,000, is based on academic achievement and a record of assisting others. Students produce capstone projects that propose workable and sustainable solutions to poverty and social injustice. Last year, 88 students and 15 faculty mentors logged 4,821 service hours at 11 sites on four continents.