July 29, 2011

University receives national recognition for community service

As colleges across the country honor their graduates this commencement
season, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
honored Harding University as a leader among institutions of higher
education for their support of volunteering, service-learning, and
civic engagement. Harding was admitted for the fifth consecutive year
to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
for engaging its students, faculty and staff in meaningful service
that achieves measurable results in the community.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, which has
administered the Honor Roll since 2006, admitted a total of 641
colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and
neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. Of that
total, 511 were named to the Honor Roll, 114 received the recognition
of Honor Roll with distinction, 11 were identified as finalists, and
six received the Presidential Award.

"As members of the class of 2011 cross the stage to pick up their
diplomas, more and more will be going into the world with a commitment
to public service and the knowledge that they can make a difference in
their communities and their own lives through service to others,
thanks to the leadership of these institutions," said Patrick A.
Corvington, chief executive officer of CNCS.

“Congratulations to Harding University and its students for their
dedication to service and commitment to improving their local
communities. We salute all the Honor Roll awardees for embracing their
civic mission and providing opportunities for their students to tackle
tough national challenges through service.”

During the 2009-10 academic year, nearly 7,400 Harding students,
faculty and staff contributed more than 98,000 hours of service to
numerous projects in the community.

A total of 851 institutions applied for the 2010 Honor Roll, a nine
percent increase over last year, a sign of the growing interest by
colleges and universities in highlighting their efforts to engage
students in making a difference in the community.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a strong partner
with the nation’s colleges and universities in supporting community
service and service-learning. Last year, CNCS provided more than $215
million in support to institutions of higher education, including
grants to operate service programs and the Segal AmeriCorps Education
Awards for college tuition and student loan repayment. CNCS is a
catalyst for service-learning programs nationwide that connect
community service with academic curricula. Through these programs, in
classes, and in extracurricular activities, college students serve
their communities while strengthening their academic and civic skills.

CNCS oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the U.S.
Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, Campus
Compact, and the American Council on Education. Honorees are chosen
based on a series of selection 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 www.NationalService.gov/HonorRoll.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal
agency that engages more than five million Americans in service
through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America
programs, and leads President Barack Obama’s national call to service
initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit
NationalService.gov.