Wagner College has won the second annual Higher Education Civic Engagement Award, given by the Washington [D.C.] Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. The other institutions recognized with this year's award are Miami Dade College, Indiana University Purdue University–Indianapolis, Santa Clara University, the College of New Jersey and Western Carolina University.
The six winners of this year’s Higher Education Civic Engagement Awards were chosen from among 120 nominees. According to the Washington Center, Civic Engagement Award winners serve as models for the many colleges and universities working to foster learning and involvement in the larger world.
“These awards honor some of the most outstanding institutions of the nation and their commitment to civic engagement,” said Eugene J. Alpert, senior vice president of the Washington Center. “They represent the collective effort of many people who are helping to make sure that our democratic values are instilled in the next generation of leaders.”
President Richard Guarasci and Provost Devorah Lieberman will accept the award on Wagner’s behalf at the Washington Center’s annual Academic Affairs Awards Luncheon, to be held on Oct. 4 at the National Press Club.
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic seminars is an independent, nonprofit organization that serves hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing selected students with challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. The largest program of its kind, the Washington Center has more than 40,000 alumni who have become leaders in numerous professions and nations around the world. It was established in 1975.
For more information about civic engagement activities at Wagner College, contact Dr. Cassia Freedland, Director of the Center for Leadership and Service.
Civic engagement at Wagner College
Wagner College is the only college or university in New York City that has been given the Community Engagement classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Carnegie Foundation classifications are the “gold standard” in higher education.
Since May 2005, Wagner College has been one of the 28 colleges and universities that belong to Project Pericles, a not-for-profit organization that encourages and facilitates commitments to include education for social responsibility and participatory citizenship as an essential part of educational programs in the classroom, on the campus and in the community.
According to the 2009 National Survey of Student Engagement, sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching:
- 49 percent of Wagner freshmen took part in a community-based project, compared with 13 percent of NSSE 2009 participants.
- 71 percent of Wagner freshmen participated in community service or volunteer work, compared to 39 percent of NSSE participants.
- 87 percent of Wagner seniors participated in community service or volunteer work, compared with 60 percent of NSSE participants.
For 4 straight years, Wagner College has been listed on the 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. Wagner has earned this distinction every year since the Honor Roll was first created in 2006.
Last year, former U.S. President Bill Clinton recognized Wagner College and President Richard Guarasci at the second annual Clinton Global Initiative University for the Port Richmond Partnership, an innovative program that focuses Wagner’s community resources in an effort to improve quality of life in the Staten Island neighborhood of Port Richmond.