Cal Poly Honored for Student Volunteer Service Efforts

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Cal Poly has received the highest federal honor that universities can receive for commitment to service learning and civic engagement.

Cal Poly was among more than than 700 institutions of higher learning named this week to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service to America’s communities from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Launched in 2006, the Honor Roll recognizes colleges and universities nationwide that support innovative and effective community service and service-learning programs.

Cal Poly is part of the California State University System, the first higher education system in the country to establish a system office supporting service learning and community engagement.

According to the CSU Center for Community Engagement data, the 23 CSU campuses had 5,794 partner sites for student placement in 2008, compared with 3,560 in 2007. Additionally, more than 170 new service learning courses were created in 2008, with the total number across the campuses reaching more than 2,570 courses.

Approximately 63,000 CSU students provided more than 1.2 million hours to their communities through their service-learning courses in 2008. The economic impact of this service totals $24.3 million (based on the accepted national volunteer rate). If service learning, community service and civic engagement hours were totaled for the nearly half of CSU’s 450,000 students who provide some type of service, the total annual economic impact approaches $650 million.

"Together, CSU campuses and California’s communities have shouldered numerous set-backs both in funding for education and social service programs. This national recognition honors the many individuals both within the CSU and across California whose contributions, perseverance and dedication continue to spark innovation and support the needs of Californians," said Judy Botelho, CSU director of the Center for Community Engagement.