UA on service honor roll

The University's emphasis on service learning has received national recognition with a spot on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for excellence in community service.

"The President's Honor Roll recognition calls attention to UA's commitment to connecting the campus with communities across our state through diverse, morally responsible partnerships," said Stephen Black, director of the UA Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility said in a statement. "It is my hope that here at UA we can continue to aspire to the highest levels of civic engagement through thoughtful, ethically driven academic pursuits and effective service to society at large."

The honor is one of the highest for schools that take part in service learning, or coursework that includes community service. It is awarded based on the innovation and range of service projects, student participation, incentives for work and how much service learning offered at a school.

There are 69 service learning classes offered this spring. The University's service learning classes are designed to meet students' goals for their education.

"Research indicates that when service experiences are integrated into an academic curriculum with structured time for students to think, talk and write about their service, the experiences improve students' critical thinking, self-efficacy and social responsibility," Black said in a statement. "Service learning courses such as SaveFirst and the Nonprofit Enrichment Team center on deepening ties between the students and the service recipients."

The University's major service projects each year include the Ripple Effect, Freshman Volunteer Days, Give-N-Go, the Beat Auburn-Beat Hunger food drive, Alternative Spring Break service projects, Hunger and Homelessness Week and work with Habitat for Humanity, a group that builds affordable housing.