March 2013

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 13, 2013—Santa Clara University has again ranked among the nation’s most service-oriented institutions of higher learning. The Corporation for National and Community Service named SCU to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which honors schools that excel in “placing students on a lifelong path of civic engagement by engaging them in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community.” This is the seventh consecutive year the University has received this award.

Santa Clara University students participated in over 133,000 hours of service during the 2011-2012 school year. That’s up from 119,000 hours the year before. Several programs offer students and others opportunities for active engagement, research, and service oriented-learning, such as:
* The Arrupe Placements, which allow nearly 1,200 students a year to learn through community engagement by working work with dozens of community partners throughout Santa Clara County.
* The Kolvenbach Solidarity Program, designed to expose students to the harsher life conditions experienced by those in parts of El Salvador, Ecuador, Mexico, and the U.S.
* Santa Clara Community Action Program, dedicated to applying activism and justice to address social issues in and around the campus community.
* On-campus programs such as “Justice Starts Here,” encouraging students to speak up when they witness injustice.
* The Experiential Learning for Social Justice component of the University’s Core Curriculum, through which undergraduate students participate in one or more of 55 community-based learning courses focused on social justice and, civic engagement.

For example, “Exploring Society Through Photography” is a visual arts course taught by lecturer Renee Billingslea. Students develop a relationship with an underserved member of the community, often at a local homeless shelter or elderly home, and take their portrait. The imagery creates a striking reminder to promote social change and justice.

The School of Engineering’s Engineering Month was another highlight of this year's service hours. Engineering students volunteering at the Third Street Community Center getting young kids excited about science, technology, and engineering.

The Presidential Honor Roll is based on a series of 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 http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/initiatives/honorroll.asp.