Lee University was named as one of six Presidential Awardees in the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll award, recognized the university and its students in the category of “General Service” for their dedication to meeting the needs of the areas most disadvantaged and vulnerable residents.
Lee University students committed more than 66,000 hours of service, developing and managing innovative programs that resulted in over 192,000 pounds of food for those in need and assistance to 487 mid- to low-income individuals and families with their tax returns.
“Congratulations to Lee University and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, the corporation’s chief executive officer. “Our nation’s students are a critical part of the equation and vital to our efforts to tackle the most persistent challenges we face. They have achieved impactful results and demonstrated the value of putting knowledge into practice to help renew America through service.”
“We are thrilled that our service-learning efforts are being recognized in this fashion,” said Dr. Charles Paul Conn, Lee University president. “In the last few years, we have succeeded in making service a part of our campus. Lots of people at Lee are working hard to develop and manage a service-learning program that really works, and this recognition affirms all those people.”
Lee University’s commitment to service extends to each of it students, who must complete two service-embedded courses and 80 hours of service-learning as a graduation requirement. Last year, students led several pioneering service projects including Lee University’s Crossover program, a food distribution program which partners with area grocers and retailers to feed local disadvantaged families; the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, a business students-led tax assistance program for low-income individuals; and the Lee University Developmental Inclusion Classroom, which provides educational planning, family support services and activities for area students with autism-spectrum disorders.
College students make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector; in 2009, 3.16 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service, according to the Volunteering in America study released by the Corporation. Each year, the Corporation invests more than $150 million in fostering a culture of service on college campuses through grants awarded by its programs; the education awards that AmeriCorps members receive at the conclusion of their term of service to pay for college; and through support of training, research, recognition, and other initiatives to spur college service.
The Corporation's Learn and Serve America program, in particular, is a catalyst for service-learning programs nationwide that connect community service with academic curriculum. Through these programs, in class and in extracurricular activities, college students serve others in their communities while strengthening their academic and civic skills. In addition, service-learning fosters partnerships between colleges and their communities that improves communities and helps meet immediate community needs.
The Corporation administers the Honor Roll in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education. 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. In addition to the top honorees, 115 institutions have been named to the Distinction List and 621 were listed on the Honor Roll.