Kean Named to President’s Community Service Honor Roll for Sixth Time

Kean University has been named to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, making this the sixth time in a row that the University has earned a spot on the prestigious national list. Kean students logged 49,500 hours of community service in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2014 to earn the designation, which honors the University’s exemplary community service programs and its commitment to service learning. Administered by the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS), the honor roll highlights the role of colleges and universities in solving community problems and placing students on a lifelong path of civic engagement.

“Six straight years on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is a point of pride for all of us at Kean,” said Kean University President Dr. Dawood Farahi. “Community service is part of Kean’s curriculum and its culture. Our community has answered the call to service with an exemplary commitment to making meaningful improvements in the communities around us.” 

Kean University was recognized in three categories: Education Service, which honors commitment to improving educational outcomes for children and youth in pre-kindergarten through undergraduate education; General Community Service, which honors community service off-campus, particularly working with low-income individuals; and Economic Opportunity Service, which honors volunteerism in service programs that build economic independence, increase family stability, and create more sustainable and resilient communities.

“Our students want to contribute to a better world, and we offer them opportunities to do that as a cornerstone to their world-class Kean University experience,” said Janice Murray-Laury, Kean’s vice president for student affairs. “But make no mistake about it, they are ones who do the work and who are eager to make a difference. It is great to see them get the recognition that they so richly deserve.”

Kean's Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) oversees and coordinates a number of service projects throughout the year including the 9/11 and MLK National Days of Service, National Volunteer Week, regular blood drives, environmental cleanups, Hurricane Sandy relief projects and multiple charitable fundraising and collection efforts.

“Everyone on campus shares this honor,” said Scott Snowden, CLS director. “Working through groups like Student Organization, Greek Life, the Center for Leadership and Service, athletics, health sciences, Be the Change, JumpStart and others, students with a passion for making a difference in the lives of others are having an impact though service projects addressing hunger and homelessness, early childhood education, the environment, cancer research and so much more.”

CNCS, the federal agency for volunteering and service, has administered the award since 2006 in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education, Campus Compact, and the Interfaith Youth Core.

More information about the Kean University’s community service efforts is available at the Center for Leadership & Service website at www.kean.edu/offices/cls. More information on eligibility and the full list of Honor Roll awardees can be found at www.nationalservice.gov.