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Simmons Receives President's National Community Service Honor for Third Year in a Row

BOSTON (February 11, 2009) —

For the third year in a row, Simmons College was named to the 2008 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for its students' volunteer service contributions to the community.

The President's Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition an institution can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement. Simmons College was recognized for the scope and innovativeness of its community service projects, the percentage of student participation in service activities, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

Simmons College is in the top 15% of universities across the nation to be named on the President's Community Service Honor Roll.

During the 2007-2008 academic year, the Simmons College Scott/Ross Center for Community Service engaged more than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 40 community partners throughout the year, including close to 800 students who enrolled in service- learning courses. Achievements were made in undergraduate and graduate service learning, tutoring and mentoring programs, English as a Second Language programs, and alternative spring break programs.

Among the myriad community service programs it manages, the Scott/Ross Center helps facilitate tutoring and mentoring partnerships with more than 14 community schools and organizations for children from preschool to high school; alternative spring break options that include working for Habitat for Humanity; a Boston immersion program that enables students to learn about the local Boston community and make personal connections with many of its members; a college awareness program for sixth-grade inner-city youths; and a self-esteem and academic support program for local high school girls.

Simmons College Trustee and alumna Emily Scott Pottruck funded the Scott/Ross Center for Community Service in 2000, in recognition of the college's long-time commitment to community service. The center serves the Greater Boston community by developing reciprocal partnerships with community organizations while enriching and expanding students' educational and co-curricular experiences.

The President's Honor Roll is jointly sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, through its Learn and Serve program, and the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the USA Freedom Corps, and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

Simmons College is a nationally recognized private university located in the heart of Boston. It offers an undergraduate education for women, and renowned coeducational graduate programs in health sciences, education, liberal arts, social work, library and information science, and communications management, as well as the nation's first MBA program designed specifically for women.