Rice University honored for distinguished community service

Rice University honored for distinguished community service
University receives President’s Honor Roll Award for Service

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) named Rice University to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth. The award is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement.

Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors, including scope and innovativeness 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.

“It’s an honor to be distinguished as a university that builds a culture of service and civic engagement,” said Stephanie Post, executive director of Rice’s Center for Civic Engagement (CCE). “This distinction is the result of the tremendous work by Rice students, faculty and staff and the university’s commitment to creating a holistic educational experience.”

The CCE aims to connect Rice faculty and students with one another and Houston-based partners by promoting and offering civic engagement opportunities through research, service and leadership. The CCE is comprised of four programs: the Center for Civic Research and Design, the Community Involvement Center, Leadership Rice and Passport to Houston. All are housed on the second floor of the Rice Memorial Center.

The Center for Civic Research and Design cultivates and expands opportunities for Rice undergraduates to conduct research under the guidance of Rice faculty and, in collaboration with community partners, address challenges facing the Houston community. The Community Involvement Center promotes volunteer opportunities for the Rice community. Leadership Rice provides students with leadership training and mentorship experiences. Passport to Houston creates opportunities for students to explore Houston and cultural and performing arts.

“College students are tackling the toughest problems in America, demonstrating their compassion, commitment, and creativity by serving as mentors, tutors, health workers and even engineers,” said Liz Seale, CNCS chief operating officer. “They represent a renewed spirit of civic engagement fostered by outstanding leadership on caring campuses.”

Launched in 2006, the honor roll is jointly sponsored by CNCS, through its Learn and Serve America program, the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA Freedom Corps and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

“Americans rely on our higher education system to prepare students for citizenship and the workforce,” said Margaret Spellings, U.S. secretary of education. “We look to institutions like these to provide leadership in partnering with local schools to shape the civic, democratic and economic future of our country.”

A full list of award-winning universities is available at www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.

“There is no question that the universities and colleges who have made an effort to participate and win the Honor Roll award are themselves being rewarded,” said David Ward, president of the American Council on Education. “Earning this distinction is not easy. But now each of these schools will be able to wear this award like a badge of honor.”