BGSU named to Community Service Honor Roll

Bowling Green State University has a strong history of community engagement, and as part of the BG experience learning in and out of the classroom is emphasized. Much of that experiential learning takes place during service-learning and community service opportunities.

Because of this commitment to community service and service learning, the University has once again been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, published annually by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The honor roll recognizes institutions of higher education that support exemplary community service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships.

The application for these awards was submitted by the Center for Community and Civic Engagement, which works to create a vision, infrastructure and programs to drive high-impact community and civic engagement priorities in service to the public good.

These awards are for activities in the 2013-2014 academic year:

• 2015 Honor Roll General Category - with Distinction

• 2015 Honor Roll Economic Opportunity Category

• 2015 Honor Roll Education Category

The programs highlighted in the application for General Service were:

• The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Challenge – In 2014, 809 student volunteers completed 2,839 hours of service at 51 challenge sites to make it “a day on, not a day off.”

• When You Move Out Don’t Throw it Out – This Office of Campus Sustainability event involved the collection of an estimated $100,000 worth of items, which were donated to 40 community partners. 

• Bowling Green Alternative Breaks – This student-led initiative included three issue-based direct service trips in which 42 students completed 1,304 hours of service.

The programs highlighted in the Economic Opportunity category were:

• The Free Tax Preparation Program – Through this program with the United Way of Greater Toledo, students contribute to improving the financial stability of low-to-moderate income taxpayers by offering no-cost, volunteer-assisted and self-service tax preparation services.

• Project Connect Wood County – In 2013 and 2014, nearly 300 adults and children attended this event, which is designed to provide assistance to people in need of supportive services. More than 200 volunteers served each year.

• The Wood County Re-Entry Coalition – This program is designed to promote collaboration among policymakers, community leaders and service providers in identifying the re-entry challenges facing people formerly incarcerated in Wood County, and provide resources for solutions toward a shared vision of enhanced service provision.

The programs highlighted in the Education category were:

• BGSU America READS – In the 2013-14 academic year, 82 BGSU students served as reading/literacy tutors at six locations throughout northwest Ohio, providing one-on-one and group support to more than 500 students in grades kindergarten through fifth.

• Educators in Context and Community – This comprehensive career-based learning community for education majors and others who work with children acclimates educators to the diverse cultures and communities their students live in.

• STEM in the Park – This one-day event provides hands-on activities intended to increase the interest and appreciation of young people in STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.

Last year, nearly 9,000 BGSU students participated in service-learning and/or community service projects, serving several thousand hours.