EIU Media Relations

EIU Earns Place on National Honor Roll for Community Service

Eastern Illinois University was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

This designation – presented to EIU for the second consecutive year -- is the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

Inspired by the thousands of college students who traveled across the country to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, the Corporation for National and Community Service has administered the award since 2006, and manages the program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the American Council on Education and Campus Compact.

“Institutions of higher education are helping improve their local communities and create a new generation of leaders by challenging students to go beyond the traditional college experience and solve local challenges,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS.  “Congratulations to Eastern Illinois University, its faculty and students for its commitment to service, both in and out of the classroom.”

“Eastern Illinois University has a long history of service-learning and believes strongly in preparing our graduates to be active leaders and participants in an ever-changing world,” said EIU President Bill Perry.  “We’re honored to receive this prestigious award, and owe much of it to the students themselves. They’re the energy driving our commitment and they’re the ones who make it all happen.”

“The Office of Student Community Service started in the Fall of 2008, and since then, we have seen great growth in volunteering and connection to our great communities,” said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs.  “This award recognizes the tireless and passionate efforts of more than 7,000 EIU students who annually participate in more than 100,000 hours of service.”

“We have great passion for our community and this award simply continues to motivate our students and staff to continue working hard with our community to enhance all the great opportunities that are here in Coles County and beyond,” added Rachel Z. Fisher, director of Student Community Service at EIU.

“Studies have said that an hour of volunteering is worth $22 to a local community.  In this past year, based on this, EIU students have contributed $2.2 million in volunteering!  We are looking forward to going even farther in the next year,” she said.

More information about Eastern’s community service efforts can be found here.  More information on eligibility and the full list of Honor Roll awardees can be found here.