SUNY Delhi Named to President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for 9th Consecutive Year

DELHI, NY (11/17/2016)(readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi has been recognized for outstanding community service efforts once again with inclusion on the 2015 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This is the ninth time that SUNY Delhi has earned this distinction.

The Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can receive for service learning and civic engagement. It recognizes higher education institutions that support exemplary community service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus-community partnerships.

"It is always an honor to be named to the President's Community Service Honor Roll," said Elizabeth Sova, Director of the O'Connor Center for Community Engagement. "It recognizes the hard work done by student volunteers, in and with our community. Our partners give so much to our students by providing them with real experiences that they can apply to their education at SUNY Delhi."

SUNY Delhi is among a select group of colleges and universities across the country that were named to the Honor Roll. Criteria included scope and innovativeness of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

SUNY Delhi has been recognized on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since the program began in 2006 (the awards were not administered in 2011). The award is presented by President Obama and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

SUNY Delhi's O'Connor Center for Community Engagement documented almost 20,000 volunteer hours by 1,001 students in 2015. In addition to volunteer hours, $6,000 was raised for non-profits by students, faculty and staff volunteers. The Center's record of continued success led The A. Lindsay and Olive B. O'Connor Foundation of Hobart to commit $30,000 in matching support for 2016.

In addition to volunteering, SUNY Delhi has made service-learning a priority. Faculty members from all academic areas have embraced service-learning as an opportunity to enhance the Delhi educational experience. Opportunities for students to serve in the classroom have grown to 19 courses and 32 sections over the past year.

The O'Connor Center for Community Engagement was established on the Delhi campus more 15 years ago, thanks to lead support from the O'Connor Foundation. The 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.