Scranton Among Nation’s Top Schools for Service
The Catholic Volunteer Network named The University of Scranton among the “Top Schools for Service” for 2020. Just 29 Catholic colleges in the nation were honored this year. Pictured are members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2019 who volunteered for long-term service projects.The University of Scranton was selected to the Catholic Volunteer Network’s 2020 “Top Schools for Service,” a list of just 29 elite Catholic colleges in the nation noted for the expression of their commitment to service. Scranton is among the seven schools selected in the Mid-Atlantic Region and is among 13 Jesuit colleges listed in all four regions of America.
The national list of “Top Schools for Service” recognized “campuses who have demonstrated consistent excellence in collaborating with our network and championing post-grad service among students.” According to Catholic Volunteer Network, the recognition celebrated “the women and men who serve in Campus Ministries, Service-Learning and Social Justice Offices and Career Centers at colleges and universities nationwide” who make long-term commitment to service by students possible. The Catholic Volunteer Network honored the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice.
“The University of Scranton is delighted to be among the select universities in the nation recognized by the Catholic Volunteer Network for the ways in which we encourage in our students a commitment to service,” said Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president. “Our Catholic and Jesuit mission is central to the transformative education we provide to our students to inspire in them a passion to serve others for the greater glory of God and the betterment of human kind.”
In addition to the community-based academic learning service projects that are part of a course, student volunteers assist community agencies and participate in numerous campus service projects, many of which are organized and facilitated by the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice. Service projects also include those completed by members of the University’s 85 student clubs which are required to complete at least three service events each academic year. Patricia Vaccaro serves as the director of the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice.
Each year, more than 2,800 Scranton students volunteer for more than 175,000 hours of service. In addition, each year members of the University’s graduating class commit to long-term service projects with nonprofit organizations and underserved populations throughout the country and internationally. Catherine Seymour, campus minister, coordinates the University’s post-grad service program.
Scranton’s previous national recognition for its commitment to service includes being named among just 361 colleges in America to earn the highly-respected Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Community Engagement Classification. Scranton has also been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
Catholic Volunteer Network, the leading membership organization of Christian volunteer and mission programs, fosters and promotes full-time domestic and international faith-based volunteer service opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and skills.
