Community service at UW again earns national recognition

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been named to the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of community service and achieve meaningful community outcomes.

The honor roll is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for community service work.

The university is among 642 institutions of higher education named to the honor roll, which is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service’s strategic commitment to engage millions of college students in service.

 “The Morgridge Center for Public Service has established itself as a leader among its peers and continues to inspire creative approaches to bridging the university with the community,” says Nancy Mathews, the center’s director. “It is an honor to receive the presidential honor roll designation.”

“We are proud of the many collaborations in engaged scholarship that faculty and staff lead, the incredible investments of time and energy that students make, and the strong leadership provided by Morgridge Center staff to ensure that we are continually abreast of the emerging needs and issues of our community,” she adds.

Mathews says the center values its community partners and its long-term work together. Among the service projects that the university listed in its application were the F.H. King Student Farm, Wisconsin Without Borders and Badger Volunteers.

The Morgridge Center estimated that 16,800 students were engaged in community service, and the total number of all community service hours engaged in by the students was estimated to be 263,000.

This is the sixth consecutive year in which the university has made the honor roll.

Engagement and service are embedded in the traditional missions of research, education and service that define UW–Madison’s role as a major public research university.

The effects of the university’s service-minded culture are seen as it consistently turns out some of the highest numbers of Peace Corps and Teach for America volunteers of any institution in the country.

 “While many colleges can boast of their public service, UW–Madison stands out because of its long history of making service to the people an essential reason for its existence,” says Interim Chancellor David Ward.

“The Wisconsin Idea motivates faculty and staff and inspires students and alumni to carry the benefits of their teaching, learning and research past the boundaries of the campus to serve their state, nation and world.”