College gains federal recognition for civic engagement

NEW PALTZ — The State University of New York at New Paltz has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors including scope and innovativeness 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.

The exemplary community service programs highlighted in New Paltz’s application included: The Service Learning Course for Freshmen in the First-Year Initiative Program; the Institute for Disaster Mental Health and the Disaster Studies Minor; Make a Difference Day and its recognition as a USA Weekend Regional Honoree; Greek Life Community Service; the AmeriCorps Educational Awards Program and Federal College Work Study service placements; and Student Association programs that target youth.

Steven Poskanzer, president of the college, said “The college has long been an active contributor to the schools, community institutions and cultural life of our region. Our staff and students are proud of this distinction and continue to find ways to enhance this aspect of our mission. I could not be more pleased to have their hard work recognized in this way.”

The application submitted for New Paltz was co-authored by Tonda Highley, Career Resource Center; Robin Cohen-La Valle, Student Development; and Sue O’Driscoll, Student Activities and Union Services.

In congratulating the winners, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said, “Americans rely on our higher education system to prepare students for citizenship and the workforce. We look to institutions like these to provide leadership in partnering with local schools to shape the civic, democratic and economic future of our country.”

New Paltz was one of 391 schools named nationally as Honor Roll members this year. A full list is available at www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.