The College of Staten Island has been named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. This is the second year in a row that the College has received this honor.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll award, recognized more than 700 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice. On campuses across the country, thousands of students joined their faculty to develop innovative programs and projects to meet local needs using the skills gained in their classrooms. Business students served as consultants to budget-strapped nonprofits and businesses, law students volunteered at legal clinics, and dozens of others organized anti-hunger campaigns.
“The College of Staten Island epitomizes leadership by example, and I am proud of its longstanding tradition and increasing commitment to public service. This national recognition showcases the dedication that CSI students, faculty, and staff possess, and highlights their dedication to their community,” said Dr. Matthew Goldstein, Chancellor of The City University of New York.”
CSI President Dr. Tomas Morales commented, “I am delighted that CSI has been named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the second year in a row. This is a well-deserved recognition for our students, faculty, staff, and administration who empower our community with the breadth and quality of the outreach services they provide to our off-campus constituents.”
At CSI, students in the Emerging Leaders Program [ELP] always take an active role when it comes to community service. Over the past year they have worked to raise funds and awareness for such worthy programs as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the NYC Department of Homeless Services, Reach out and Read of Greater NY, Project Hospitality, Habitat for Humanity, and the Staten Island Zoo, among others.
In addition, students in the Strategies for Success Program spend their volunteer hours mentoring students at I.S. 49 and PS 57. During the 2008/2009 academic year, 26 CSI students from a variety of disciplines mentored over 250 pupils to provide academic support in math, language arts, science, and social studies.
Students enrolled in the Social Work program at the College of Staten Island engage in fieldwork courses
as part of their Professional Foundation Content Requirement. Under the tutelage of veteran social
workers, students are able to put to practical use the theories and skills they learn in the classroom
through their placements in education, health, social service agencies, and other community-based
organizations on Staten Island and throughout New York City. Two particular organizations that have benefited from the diligent efforts of CSI students are the Seamen’s Society for Children and Families and Safe Horizons.
CSI Nursing students also volunteer their time to make New York City a better place to live. Through the Nursing program’s Community Health component, undergraduate and graduate students gain valuable experiences with patients–ranging from infants to senior citizens–that have allowed them to help local residents while encouraging the students in their pursuit of a career in health care. With the growing H1N1 epidemic, nursing students have also helped with efforts to prevent a national health crisis.
There are also many other opportunities for CSI students to perform community service, as the Office of Student Life facilitates a volunteer event of the month whereby students pair up to support local nonprofit organizations like Project Hospitality and the American Cancer Society.
Nationwide, 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.
“Congratulations to CSI and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “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.”
The Corporation oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact, and the American Council on Education. Click Here for more information.
