Campus Service Learning Programs Drawing Widespread Accolades

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is continuing to distinguish itself as an urban academic model in civic engagement efforts, winning a number of national awards.

“In the past few months, IUPUI has been recognized with several national awards for programs which promote service learning and community engagement,” says Uday Sukhatme, executive vice chancellor and dean of the faculties. “Many of these programs originated in IUPUI’s Center for Service and Learning. This type of recognition should be a source of great pride for our faculty, staff and students.”

A list of recent awards IUPUI received for service learning and community engagement follows.

• Presidential Award in Community Service: In the inaugural year for this award, IUPUI was recognized by the Corporation for National and Community Service, as one of three universities in the country to receive the Presidential Award for exceptional accomplishments in general student community service activities. Additionally, the campus received distinction for Hurricane Katrina relief service. Both of these awards are part of the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Five hundred ten universities applied for this award. The award was presented in fall 2006. http://www.learnandserve.gov/about/programs/higher_ed_honorroll.asp
• Saviors of Our Cities: IUPUI was recognized as one of 25 urban colleges and universities that, because of their strong positive contribution of careful strategic planning and thoughtful use of resources, have dramatically strengthened the economy and quality of life of their neighboring communities. The campus was rated the highest among public universities named with this distinction. This award was presented in August 2006. http://www.iupui.edu/news/insider_060825.htm
• U.S. News & World Report: Since 2003, U. S. News &World Report annually recognized IUPUI as one of the best 25 service learning programs in the nation within their highlighting of “Programs that Really Work” to advance student learning and success.
• “College with a Conscience”: In 2005, IUPUI was one of 81 colleges and universities from a pool of over 900 nominations selected by The Princeton Review and Campus Compact as a “College with a Conscience.”
• Carnegie Classification for “Community Engagement”: In 2004, IUPUI was selected as one of 12 colleges and universities to participate in designing a new, voluntary classification for “community engagement” through the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching. Currently the campus is completing the process to be designated as one of the first 100 campuses in the country with this designation.
• The Fit for Life Program: This program is coordinated by the School of Physical Education and Tourism Management, in collaboration with the School of Nursing, George Washington Community School, and the Office of Neighborhood Partnerships. In 2006, this program was highlighted by the mayor of Indianapolis in the Fit City Program. http://petm.iupui.edu/news/exercise-science-students.html