Jersey City, N.J. – October 11, 2016 – Saint Peter’s University today announced that it has been named to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Honor Roll, a national honor roll that recognizes institutions of higher education that support exemplary community service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships. Saint Peter’s was recognized in all four categories of the President’s Honor Roll, which include General Community Service, Interfaith Community Service, Economic Opportunity and Education. Saint Peter’s is the only institution in the state of New Jersey to be recognized in all four categories.
“Community service and campus community partnerships are a hallmark of a Saint Peter’s education,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “We take great pride in this recognition because it shines a light on the hard work and dedication of the members of our University community who are making an impact on our local community and beyond.”
The General Community Service category recognizes institutions that have made a commitment to improving the quality of life of off-campus community residents, particularly low-income individuals. In this category, Saint Peter’s was recognized for the University’s work with the Saint Peter’s Food and Clothes Pantry; the Emmaus Project, which conducts homeless outreach; and the Junkyard Dogs, a group of students and community members who regularly meet to collect litter around the local community.
The Interfaith Community Service category acknowledges programs that foster meaningful relationships among community members of differing faiths and backgrounds. Saint Peter’s was recognized “with distinction” in this category for programs such as global outreach; which hosts annual domestic and international service trips; the Angel Giving Tree, an initiative to collect gifts for children in need in the surrounding community; and the activities of the multicultural and interfaith student organizations on campus.
The Economic Opportunity category recognizes institutions with service programs that build economic independence, increase family stability and create more sustainable and resilient communities. Saint Peter’s was honored for the University’s work with the Ignite Institute, a Center of Excellence at Saint Peter’s that is poised to harness the energy of the growing entrepreneurial community in the Jersey City area; Small Business Project, a program that enabled students to work with area businesses to examine the effects of gentrification; and Saint Peter’s efforts with immigration reform.
The Education category recognizes institutions that have made a commitment to improving educational outcomes for children and youth in pre-kindergarten through undergraduate education. The programs that were acknowledged in this category are the service learning program, the Big Brothers Big Sisters partnership and the Latino/a Engagement in Education Program (LEEP), which engages students as well as their families for information sessions and mentoring programs.
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Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit www.saintpeters.edu.
Media Contact:
Angeline Boyer
aboyer1@saintpeters.edu
(201) 761-6238