Rice earns recognition for commitment to community service

BY JENNIFER EVANS
Rice News staff

Rice University has once again been named to the 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. The honor roll recognizes higher education institutions for exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.

The selection was made by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency that leads President Barack Obama’s national call to service. It is the highest federal recognition a university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, academic community service and civic engagement.

The CNCS announced the 2010 honor roll May 12. Rice was among more than 600 colleges and universities recognized for their volunteer efforts to impact issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors including 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.

“Service to the Houston community is an integral part of the undergraduate student experience at Rice University,” said Mac Griswold, director of Rice’s Community Involvement Center. “This recognition honors the commitments of both the institution and its students.”

Community Involvement Center
Learn more about Rice’s mission to help its surrounding community

Community
Discover what Rice’s students, faculty and staff are doing to engage the global community
Community Involvement Center (CIC) was established as the center for community service programming for Rice students, faculty and staff. The CIC seeks to establish a culture of service and an ethic of social responsibility within the university community by developing one-time and ongoing service programs, advising student service organizations and serving as a resource for students, faculty and staff interested in community service and service-learning. The CIC coordinates a number of opportunities for civic involvement throughout the year, including O-Week Outreach Day; Urban Immersion; two fairs highlighting career, internship and volunteer opportunities; the International Service Project to Guatemala; and an Alternative Spring Break program.

The CIC is one of three components of the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), led by Executive Director Kellie Sims Butler. The CCE identifies and cultivates opportunities for Rice students, faculty and staff to engage the Houston community and the world through scholarship, service and leadership.

The CNCS oversees the annual President’s Higher Education Honor Roll in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education.

For the complete honor roll, visit http://myproject.nationalservice.gov/honorroll/.