Volunteer service is on the SUNY president’s honor roll

For the fourth straight year, the college has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

Geneseo has been on the honor roll since its creation in 2006. The Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll Award, recognizes colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice. Honorees are evaluated on scope and innovation 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.

"Geneseo students and faculty are making a difference every day in the lives of others through thoughtful and dynamic service activities at a local, national and international level," said President Christopher C. Dahl. "This kind of active community engagement is an important component of a liberal arts education and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts."
In 2009, 3,744 Geneseo students engaged in general community service and academic service-learning for 60,591 total hours.

"It's gratifying both personally and professionally working with Geneseo students truly dedicated to community service, and this recognition validates their active involvement," said Tom Matthews, director of leadership education, development and training at Geneseo. "I have worked beside students engaged in service projects and their commitment is genuine and sincere."

The organization recognized Geneseo specifically for five community service projects in 2009:

• The college's ongoing commitment to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts through Livingston County CARES. More than 300 students have volunteered, including President Dahl, on 16 work trips to Biloxi, Miss.

• The New York State Section V High School Athletes/SUNY Geneseo Leadership Summit, at which Geneseo's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation partners with the New York State Section V Public High School Athletic Association to create leadership opportunities for student-athletes to peer educate on a variety of current issues in athletics.

•  The student body's dedication to fighting cancer through the Colleges Against Cancer/Relay for Life events. Geneseo raised more than $72,000 for the American Cancer Society at last year's event.

• The Xerox Center Urban Experience: Saturday School Program in Rochester, which provides academic follow-up for the Rochester City Schools cohort of 60 students who enroll in a two-week residential summer camp called Rochester Young Scholars Academy at Geneseo. The program is run through the Xerox Center for Multicultural Education, a partnership between the School of Education and Xerox Corp.

• The Center for Community HEROS Program, in which Geneseo students mentor high school students from low-income families. The program is a collaboration between The SUNY Geneseo Center for Community, in collaboration with AmeriCorps VISTA and guidance counselors at three area rural schools.

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IN OTHER NEWS ...

Task force helps bring theory to practice at Geneseo

The Teaching and Learning Center is holding the first of two open forums today, Wednesday, March 10, for faculty to learn more about and discuss the "Bringing Theory to Practice" project. Bringing Theory to Practice is one of the college's Six Big Ideas, which refer to initiatives that SUNY Geneseo is examining for the future.

Bringing Theory to Practice is a national project being conducted in partnership with the Association of American Colleges and Universities and other organizations. The project encourages colleges and universities to reassert their core purposes as educational institutions to advance learning and discovery, and to advance the potential and well-being of individual students, as well as advance education as a public good that sustains a civic society."

Geneseo's Bringing Theory to Practice task force includes Dean of Residential Living Celia Easton, Associate Provost David Gordon and Professor Dennis Showers, of the School of Education. The task force, one of several appointed by President Christopher C. Dahl, issued a final report in December, 2009.

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KUDOS

• GSTV raised $350 during its 24-hour telethon March 5 to benefit the El Sauce service-learning program. Past participants of the El Sauce program such as Allison Kornblatt '10 and Mandy Yu '10 spoke about their experiences in Nicaragua on camera. Students also performed throughout the telethon, entertaining crowds in the College Union with step routines, demonstrations on how to knit, band performances and more. Proceeds of the telethon benefit the program through The Geneseo Foundation.

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UPCOMING EVENTS  

• On Thursday, March 25 through the 27, at 8 p.m. in the Alice Austin Theatre, there will be an Orchesis Dance concert, "Beyond the Studio Mirror." Admission is $5. The performance is presented by the School of Arts.

• On Saturday, March 27, at 8 p.m. in Wadsworth Auditorium, Siblings Weekend will feature a performance by The Rhythmics, an urban percussion and modern tap group. Tickets cost $6 for Geneseo students, $13 for faculty, staff and seniors, $16 for the public and $8 for children up to age 12. Order on the Limelight and Accents Web site.

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PHOTO GALLERY

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Enjoy spring break! Our next issue is March 24.

March 10, 2010

In this week's issue:

Features

• Volunteer service is on the SUNY president’s honor roll

In Other News

• Task force helps bring theory to practice at Geneseo

• Kudos

• Upcoming events

• Photo gallery

About ENCompass

ENCompass Weekly is designed to keep faculty, staff, students and friends in touch with what’s happening at the College.

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