SUNY Delhi Earns Carnegie Community Engagement Honor

Related Media

Carnegie Community Engagement Classification Seal

DELHI, NY (01/10/2015)(readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi is one of an elite group of colleges and universities to earn the 2015 Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This highly-sought, national honor recognizes a commitment to community engagement as an essential aspect of institutional mission and identity.

Delhi is one of only 361 colleges and universities in the United States to receive the Community Engagement Classification, including 14 from New York State. The college applied for the classification by documenting the extent of its engagement with the community through its O'Connor Center for Community Engagement. Delhi's designation is valid through 2025.

"This prestigious classification recognizes that volunteer service is the hallmark of a Delhi education," said President Candace S. Vancko. "It distinguishes Delhi as a college that engages students in outstanding learning experiences and instills in students, faculty and staff a commitment to contributing to their communities."

SUNY Delhi has also earned recognition with the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. It has received this national honor for eight years, every year since the inception of the award.

In 2014, 1,147 students completed over 24,000 volunteer hours through the O'Connor Center. The Center is in its 16th year of operation and is generously supported by The A. Lindsay and Olive B. O'Connor Foundation.

In addition to volunteering, SUNY Delhi has made service-learning a priority, embracing it as an opportunity to enhance the Delhi educational experience. Opportunities for Delhi students to serve in the classroom have been extended to all academic areas.

The O'Connor Center matches individual students, clubs, classes, and faculty and staff volunteers with non-profit agencies and organizations within the greater Delhi community that wish to partner with the college. It serves as a clearinghouse for these community organizations, and facilitates volunteerism by arranging for transportation, orientation and training, and feedback on completed community service projects.

To serve as a host organization for Delhi students who wish to do volunteer service or to connect with faculty members to develop service-learning partnerships, please contact the O'Connor Center for Community Engagement at (607) 746-4781.