CUC receives fourth national recognition for community service and civic engagement
7/8/2011
July 8, 2011—Concordia University Chicago 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.
The announcement from the Corporation for National and Community Service—the nation’s largest grant maker supporting service and volunteering through AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America and other programs—marks the fourth national Honor Roll recognition for Concordia-Chicago. The University was named to the 2006, 2007 and 2009 honor rolls.
The Honor Roll recognizes colleges and universities across the country where students and faculty applied skills from the classroom to develop innovative community programs and projects that address poverty, homelessness, environmental justice and other community needs.
Concordia was named for its extensive service to community during the 2009-10 academic year. That year, more than 564 students engaged in community service, of which 501 was service learning, out of 1,363 undergraduate students. The total of service hours reported was 5,630.
Concordia-Chicago partners with several Chicago metropolitan social service agencies, schools and organizations where its students volunteer and serve. Among these places the University partners with include:
- Junior Achievement, where students teach financial concepts that are age and grade appropriate to grade school students in multiple local schools. Overall about 500 hours were volunteered.
- Orchard Place Elementary School in Des Plaines, where 25 students spent 250 hours working with English Language Learner (ELL) students through the “Reading Buddies” reading mentoring program.
- West Suburban PADS, where 25 students volunteered 250 hours to setting up for meal service, serving meals and cleaning up.
Other agencies Concordia-Chicago works with are the Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County, Oak-Leyden Developmental Services, and St. Eulalia Catholic Church in Maywood.
Each year, the Corporation invests more than $150 million in fostering a culture of service on college campuses through grants awarded by its programs. The education awards that AmeriCorps members receive at the conclusion of their term of service to pay for college; and through support of training, research, recognition, and other initiatives to spur college service.
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.
About Concordia University Chicago
Concordia University Chicago is a liberal arts-based Christian university in the Lutheran tradition. Through its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, and College of Graduate and Innovative Programs, Concordia offers more than 100 areas of study in small classes taught by professors who are passionate about teaching and student success.
With more than 5,000 full-time undergraduate and graduate students, Concordia University Chicago is located in River Forest, 10 miles west of downtown Chicago. Learn more at www.cuchicago.edu.
Media Contact:
Sarah Hickman
Sarah.hickman@cuchicago.edu
708-209-323