The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has named Kean University to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Having made the list each year since 2009, the 2015 honor roll marks the sixth consecutive year Kean University has been recognized through this national honor.
The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that consistently support community service programs and promote its practices in campus community partnerships. The CNCS has issued the Honor Roll's Presidential Award each year since 2006 as part of its mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.
According to its website, "The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is dedicated to creating economic opportunity by using national service to improve the financial well-being and security of economically disadvantaged individuals."
The four categories recognized by the President's Honor Roll are: general community service, interfaith community service, education and economic opportunity. For 2015, Kean University has been recognized in each category with the exception of interfaith community service.
The General Community Service category is representative of the depth of higher education community service activities. Projects that display service efforts put forth by Kean University include volunteering at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Habitat for Humanity, Homelessness Awareness Week and environmental cleanups at parks and beaches.
The Education category highlights the overall impact an institution's service programs has on its community, with an emphasis on the number of volunteers and the hours they served. Through its partnership with Elizabeth public schools, Kean University students in the Jumpstart program volunteered nearly 12,000 service hours to improve the educational experience of pre-kindergarten students.
The Economic Opportunity category demonstrates how an institution's service efforts helps its community, particularly in helping disadvantaged individuals achieve economic opportunity goals. Through various charitable efforts, Kean University's Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) has consistently raised funds in conjunction with student service efforts.
Sue Figueroa, Managing Assistant Director of Community Service and Civic Engagement for CLS, is one of many individuals at the university dedicated to promoting the university's community service initiative.
"Students are not focused on any particular segment, but they appropriately highlight the organizations and well-thought-out initiatives supported by Kean [University]," said Figueroa.
She also acknowledges the passion students show for volunteering in service events held on and off campus.
"[Students are] Working with the Mobile Food Bank, volunteering at food pantries, Habitat [and] disaster relief. Students also volunteer privately, so there is no way to quantify what the true give back is," said Figueroa. "This is just a glimpse."
Receiving the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the sixth year in a row is an accomplishment all members of the Kean community should take pride in.
Please visit the CLS website at http://www.kean.edu/offices/cls, or stop by room 303 in the Miron Student Center for more information on how to volunteer at Kean University.
