University of Scranton Named to President’s Honor Roll for Community Service

Nov 16, 2016
University of Scranton students volunteer at numerous community service programs offered through the University’s Edward R. Leahy Center Clinic for the Uninsured. Last month, Scranton was named to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, recognized in the categories of general service, economic opportunity and education.
University of Scranton students volunteer at numerous community service programs offered through the University’s Edward R. Leahy Center Clinic for the Uninsured. Last month, Scranton was named to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, recognized in the categories of general service, economic opportunity and education.

The University of Scranton was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for reflecting “the values of exemplary service” and achieving “meaningful, measureable outcomes.” In the national Honor Roll for 2015, which was just published last month, Scranton was recognized in three categories of achievement: general service, economic opportunity and education.

Recognition in each of these categories required demonstration of using assessment and evaluation of service initiatives, as well as documented qualitative and quantitative measurements of results.

Being named to the President’s Honor Roll in the General Community Service category recognizes Scranton for its “commitment to improving the quality of life of off-campus community residents, particularly low-income individuals.” Examples of “General Community Service” include the University’s annual Street Sweep projects, its Back to School Bonanza and the Edward R. Leahy Center Clinic for the Uninsured, which offers quality “non-emergency” health care at no cost to uninsured Lackawanna County residents, as well as physical therapy, counseling and low vision services. The Leahy Clinic allows University students to perform projects in the fields of nursing, counseling, health administration, community health education and physical therapy. Language and communications majors also integrate course work that support the services offered through the Clinic.

Being named to the President’s Honor Roll for Economic Opportunity Community Service category recognized Scranton for service programs “that build economic independence, increase family stability and create more sustainable and resilient communities.” Examples of the University’s Economic Opportunity Community Service programs include the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program that offers assistance to low and middle income residents, the Excess Food For Others Recovery Team (EFFORT) program that delivers excess food from area restaurants and grocery stores to area food pantries and shelters, and multiple projects run by academic programs and departments at the University that provide pro-bono assistance to community nonprofit organizations as part of their course work.

Inclusion in the President’s Honor Roll for the Education Community Service category recognizes Scranton for its “commitment to improving educational outcomes for children and youth in pre-kindergarten through undergraduate education.” Examples of the University’s “Education Community Service” include the University of Success program, a multi-year, pre-college program for high school students designed to develop the skills needed to successfully gain entrance to college. Additional examples include Play Facilitation for Children with Autism and the Peace Makers program, an afterschool program for children aged 9 to 13.

Each year, more than 2,800 University students participated in these and other community service programs, volunteering a total number of 175,000 hours annually.

President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, supported by The White House Office on Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact, the American Council on Education, Interfaith Youth Corps and other higher education associations.

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