Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University's innovative and effective community service and service-learning programs earned it a place on the 2008 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

Announced earlier this year, this award is sponsored by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, and the U.S. Departments of Education, and Housing and Urban Development, in partnership with Campus Compact and the American Council on Education. Selection criteria for the Honor Roll include the scope, innovativeness, and effectiveness of service projects; the percentage of students engaged in community service; and several other factors.

"To be recognized on a national level for the quality of our community service programs is indeed an honor because they are such an important part of the learning environment here," said Michael Engh, S.J., president of Santa Clara University. "Engaging students in service-oriented learning gives them real world experience in being 'men and women for others."

Annually, an estimated 1,200 students participate in community-based learning projects, and 325 students go on immersion trips organized through the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education, one of the three Centers of Distinction on campus.

The importance of this educational emphasis on service-learning is underscored by the new core curriculum, which goes into effect this fall. The new core requires incoming freshmen to participate in some form of community-based learning during their undergraduate years.

For more information about the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, visit www.learnandserve.gov/about/programs/higher_ed_honorroll.asp.