RU named to national community service honor roll

community service logo

Radford University has been named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The honor roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities, CNCS said.

The 2013 Honor Roll recipients were announced at the American Council on Education’s 95th Annual Meeting on March 4 in Washington, D.C. Radford University also made the Honor Roll in 2009.

"We’re honored to receive this award," said Tim Filbert, assistant director of Radford University's Office of Community Engagement. "It recognizes the connections we're making between learning on campus and learning through the wonderfully rich complexity of the communities of which we're a part. And we owe much of it to the students themselves. They’re the energy driving our commitment, and they’re the ones who make it all happen."

RU’s community service activities have affected the lives of hundreds of local youth over the last year, Filbert said.

More than 150 Radford University students in academic service-learning experiences contributed nearly 6,000 hours to work with youth, most of whom are from low-income families. According to the RU Honor Roll application, more than 100 school youth were tutored by Radford University students in a mathematics class.

Through courses in RU's College of Education and Human Development, 200 preschool children, including 80 with the national Head Start program, worked with RU students to develop early learning and social skills. Through Appalachian Arts and Studies in the Schools, 140 high school youths who were college-able but not college-bound now have increased knowledge, resources and confidence regarding their ability to pursue higher education, Filbert said.

CNCS said RU's selection for the Honor Roll is recognition from the highest levels of the federal government of the university's commitment to service and civic engagement.

"Congratulations to Radford University, its faculty and students for its commitment to service, both in and out of the classroom," said Wendy Spencer, chief executive officer of CNCS. "Through its work, institutions of higher education are helping improve their local communities and create a new generation of leaders by challenging students to go beyond the traditional college experience and solve local challenges."

CNCS is a federal agency that engages people in community service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and the Social Innovation Fund. In addition, the organization leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve.

The agency began the honor roll in 2006, taking inspiration from the thousands of college students who traveled to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.

Mar 13, 2013
Chad Osborne
(540) 831-7761
caosborne@radford.edu