SUNY Delhi O'Connor Center Earns National Recognition for Eighth Year

DELHI, NY (12/13/2014)(readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi has been recognized with the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the efforts of its O'Connor Center for Community Engagement for the eighth consecutive year. SUNY Delhi has received this prestigious honor every year since the inception of the award.

The Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement. SUNY Delhi was among a select group of colleges and universities across the U.S. that were chosen based on several factors, including 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.

"Achieving a national recognition such as this can be challenging," said Elizabeth Sova, Director of the O'Connor Center. "It is especially challenging to achieve year after year, and I am very proud that we continue to explore new ways we can partner with the surrounding area."

The O'Connor Center for Community Engagement documented over 24,000 volunteer hours by 1,147 students in 2014. In addition to volunteer hours, $16,000 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 to commit $30,000 in matching support for 2015.

In addition to volunteering, SUNY Delhi has made service-learning a priority. Faculty members from all academic divisions have embraced service-learning as an opportunity to enhance the Delhi educational experience. Opportunities for students to serve in the classroom have grown to 10 courses and 22 sections over the past year.

The O'Connor Center for Community Engagement was established on the Delhi campus over 13 years ago, thanks to lead support from The A. Lindsay and Olive B. O'Connor Foundation of Hobart. 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.