Midwestern University Earns Spot on National Honor Roll for Commitment to Community Service
As a testament to Midwestern University's commitment to community service, the University once again earned a spot on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This year marks the fifth consecutive time Midwestern has been named to this national honor roll of colleges and universities committed to bettering their communities through community service and service learning.
“One of the fundamental missions of our University is to reach out to our communities through service,' said Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., President and CEO of Midwestern University. “I am both grateful and proud of the dedication shown by our students, our faculty, and our staff to helping our neighbors. Their compassion, caring, and enthusiasm are values that we encourage and strive for on both a professional and personal level.”
The award, which is the highest federal recognition a college or university can achieve for its commitment to service and civic engagement, is presented by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education.
Midwestern University has a strong tradition of community service on both the Glendale, AZ and Downers Grove, IL campuses. Midwestern University students coordinate health fairs in underserved neighborhoods; provide healthcare at homeless shelters and inner-city clinics; organize fundraisers for public service agencies; conduct high school physicals; and give presentations on health-related topics at local schools. Midwestern's faculty and staff are also active in the community, serving on local nonprofit boards, judging school science fairs, volunteering at local agencies, and providing free health lectures for the community.
“We applaud the Honor Roll schools, their faculty and students for their commitment to make service a priority in and out of the classroom. Together, service and learning increase civic engagement while fostering social innovation among students, empowering them to solve challenges within their communities,” said Robert Velasco, Acting CEO of CNCS.
Honorees for the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll are chosen based on a series of factors, including the scope and innovation of service projects, the extent to which service-learning is embedded in the curriculum, the school's commitment to long-term campus-community partnerships, and measurable community outcomes as a result of the service.