The Corporation for National and Community Service today named NYU to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction.
The Corporation for National and Community Service today named NYU to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. The honor is given in recognition of the University’s commitment to service and civic engagement.
NYU has a long tradition and extensive tradition of community service and engagement. Among the notable aspects of the University service programs in 2008-09:
- Overall, more than 15,000 NYU students performed community service
- More than 1,000 NYU graduate and undergraduate students (the largest program in the country) participated in America Reads and America Counts, each providing 10 – 12 hours per week of tutoring help in 105 city schools
- Through the School of Law’s Community Development and Economic Justice Clinic, law students provide legal assistance to neighborhood organizations and help with litigation on matters such as workers’ and tenants’ rights
- NYU dental students provides care to some 50,000 poor New Yorkers yearly
- NYU’s Community Fund – funded by contributions from NYU employees – distributes some $100,000 annually to local charities and non-profits
- With a membership of some 300, the NYU’s Civic Team provides greatly needed support to non-profit agencies serving at-risk youth, underserved communities, senior citizens, homebound elderly, and homeless New Yorkers.
- More than 200 students participated in NYU’s Alternative Breaks program, traveling across the world to spend their winter break, spring break and weekends working with various host communities on such issues as literacy, poverty, homelessness, racism, immigration, disaster relief, and the environment
NYU President John Sexton said, “Being part of a community of scholars and teachers and learners – having the opportunity to lead the life of the mind – is a great privilege; service to others is part of the way we acknowledge that privilege. I am honored by this recognition of NYU’s service tradition, and proud of the thousands of members of this community who dedicate their time to these noble purposes.”