Ginsberg Center E-Newsletter
Spring/Summer 2009
High Marks for Service: University Receives Double Honors for Civic Engagement
By Caroline Massad
Two prominent national institutions recognized the University of Michigan this year for its high level of civic engagement.
"The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and to develop leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future," University President Mary Sue Coleman said. "This commitment is centered in our support to faculty teaching service-learning courses, students seeking transformative community service experiences and student organizations engaging in community action."
The University was among 83 schools named with Distinction to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for 2008. A place on the Honor Roll, which is overseen by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), is the highest federal recognition a school can receive for its service projects, service learning courses and student participation in these activities.
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching also recognized the University for its engagement in the Southeast Michigan community.
The Foundation, which researches education and catalogues U.S. higher education institutions according to their size and programs they offer, began in 2006 to invite schools to apply for "community engagement" classification. Schools are awarded the designation if they demonstrate significant, mutually beneficial collaboration with their communities through academics, outreach and partnerships.
"Both of these recognitions will show potential students and faculty how highly the University values service learning and community engagement," Ginsberg Center Faculty Director Margaret Dewar said.
In total, CNCS recognized 635 schools for their community service efforts for 2008, and the Carnegie foundation awarded its classification to 120 schools out of 147 applicants for the same year. 195 schools in total have received the Carnegie designation.
CNCS, the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America, collaborates on the President's Honor Roll with the federal Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, as well as the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.
Spring/Summer 2009 Table of Contents
- Federal Stimulus Helps Ginsberg Program, Detroit Nonprofits
- Art Prof. Tobier Wins National Award for Community Engagement
- It's Summer in the City for Semester in Detroiters Who Stay On
- SERVE Celebrates 20th Anniversary
- High Marks for Service: University of Michigan Receives Double Honors for Civic Engagement
- English Prof. Alexander, Founder of Prison Outreach Program, Named Finalist for Campus Compact Award
- How I Spent My Summer Vacation: Pangea World Service Team in Ecuador