Walsh Named to the 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
Walsh University has received national recognition as a leader among institutions of higher education for its support of volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). For the fourth consecutive year, Walsh was named to the 2014 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for engaging its students, faculty and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community.
According to a report by the Volunteering and Civic Life in America, college students make a significant contribution to their communities through volunteering and service. During the past year alone, Walsh students, faculty and staff members have dedicated more than 35,000 hours of community service.
In addition to the four Presidential Award winners, a total of 766 higher education institutions were named to the 2014 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The Honor Roll recognizes institutions of higher education that support exemplary community service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships.
Service to others has been a part of the Walsh mission since the Brothers of Christian Instruction founded the University in 1960. Service permeates student life and institutional culture with Walsh students serving both locally and globally. Core values - excellence, integrity, service - drive the deeply rooted Walsh mission of "educating students to become leaders in service to others."
This recognition is due in large part to the University’s coordinated effort to provide various service opportunities for students. Walsh’s Office of Service Learning, Office of Global Learning and the Office of Social Outreach work collaboratively with other campus and community partners to create experiential learning opportunities that also help people in need. Projects and coursework have included war-related para-professional counselor training in Uganda; the Ziika Micro Finance Project; the Issues in Global Healthcare course where students examine how different aspects of Tanzanian society impact nursing education and healthcare practice; the Nursing with Families course focused on learning communication and therapeutic nursing interventions; and the Psychology of Violence coursework that targets awareness to the issue of bullying.
Service is a mandatory part of the Walsh education from the athletic department to the classroom, and is strongly encouraged for all employees as well.
Service learning opportunities are available in all academic disciplines and is a graduation requirement for Walsh undergraduate students. Several graduate classes incorporate service into their curriculum as well. Locally, the Office of Service Learning links academic courses with service opportunities at 40 non-profit partners. All Walsh student organizations have a service requirement, and the Office of Social Outreach links students, faculty and staff with agencies for fall/spring break service trips, Harvest for Hunger, blood drives, Adopt-a-Family, Habitat for Humanity, mentoring programs, and nursing home outreach.
CNCS oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact, and the American Council on Education. Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors, including the scope and innovation of service projects, the extent to which service-learning is embedded in the curriculum, the school’s commitment to long-term campus-community partnerships, and measurable community outcomes as a result of the service.
For a full list of recipients and descriptions of their service, visit www.NationalService.gov/HonorRoll.