Topics: Student Affairs, Administrative

March 29, 2010

Ball State University 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 distinction ties into Ball State's vision and mission that all members of the university participate in the democratic vision of an educated and responsible citizenry," said Kathy Smith, associate director of student life. "Part of being a responsible citizen is giving back to the community."

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.

"Our nation's students are a critical part of the equation and vital to our efforts to tackle the most persistent challenges we face," said Patrick Corvington, chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. "They have achieved impactful results and demonstrated the value of putting knowledge into practice to help renew America through service."

The Honor Roll includes six colleges and universities that are recognized as Presidential.

Awardees, with an additional 115 named to the Distinction List and 621 schools named as Honor Roll members. Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors including the scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

Ball State is one of 22 schools in Indiana to receive the distinction.

"I think students want to serve others, and I am always trying to think of new ways to get the students involved with the Muncie community," Smith said.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs and leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.

For more information about service at Ball State, contact Kathy Smith, associate director of student life, at 765-285-2621.

By Chanel Richards