Indiana State University Newsroom

A new ranking of community service by college students has Indiana State University at the top of the pack among six major universities in Indiana.

The Washington Monthly found Indiana State students participate in public service in greater numbers and for more hours, relative to school size, than Indiana, Purdue or Ball State universities, IUPUI or the University of Notre Dame. Among those same schools, only IUPUI ranks higher when it comes to incorporating service learning into academics and scholarships.

"It is gratifying to see yet another entity recognize Indiana State's record of public service. It is truly ingrained in our culture. Community engagement helps define us as an institution and helps our students go on to become servant leaders when they graduate and be a positive influence in the world," said Nancy Rogers, associate vice president for community engagement and experiential learning.

More than 5,000 Indiana State students - about half of the entire student body - participated in some kind of community service during the 2009-10 school year. Just this week, about 400 freshmen pitched in to help 50 community organizations during the annual Donaghy Day, which introduces new students to ISU's commitment to community engagement even before their first day of classes.

Indiana State was among the first universities in the nation to be recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in a special category of colleges and universities that are committed to both an academic approach to community collaboration and extensive outreach and partnerships. ISU has also made the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since the honor roll was launched in 2006.

But Indiana State's leaders want the university to become even stronger in that area. ISU's strategic plan sets a goal of 2014 for every student to have at least one community engagement experience before graduation

The Washington Monthly's rankings are part of the magazine's annual survey of 258 national universities. Indiana State ranks 30th in the nation in the student community service category and 41st nationally in academic and scholarship support for community service.

ISU also graduates a higher percentage of its students than predicted based on SAT scores and the percentage of students eligible for federal Pell grants. Indiana State's graduation rate of 44 percent is six points higher than its predicted rate, a measurement of what the magazine classifies as social mobility.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Events/Donaghy-Day/DSC0939DonaghyDay/981074048_APzMA-L.jpg - Indiana State University freshmen help spruce up downtown Terre Haute on Donaghy Day, Aug. 24, 2010, as part of their introduction to ISU's commitment to community service.

Contact: Nancy Rogers, associate vice president for community engagement and experiential learning, Indiana State University, 812-237-2474 or nancy.rogers@indstate.edu

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu