CLINTON, Iowa, May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As colleges across the country honor their graduates this spring, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) honored Ashford University as a leader among institutions of higher education for its support of volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. Ashford University was admitted to the 2010 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for engaging its students, faculty and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community. 

CNCS, which has administered the Honor Roll since 2006, admitted a total of 641 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. Of that total, 511 were named to the Honor Roll, 114 received the recognition of Honor Roll with distinction, 11 were identified as finalists and six received the Presidential Award.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Ashford University has been named to the Community Service Honor Roll.  

"Congratulations to Ashford University and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities," said Patrick A. Corvington, CNCS chief executive officer.  "We salute all the Honor Roll awardees for embracing their civic mission and providing opportunities for their students to tackle tough national challenges through service."

Each organization receiving funding from the Ashford University Student Government Association is required to complete a community service project each semester and the university's 17 athletic teams routinely participate in community service projects. In addition, Ashford is a participant in the federal Work Study Program and many of its students chose community service opportunities as their work study jobs.

A total of 851 institutions applied for the 2010 Honor Roll, a nine percent increase over last year, a sign of the growing interest by colleges and universities to highlight their efforts to engage students in making a difference in the community.

On campuses across the country, millions of college students are engaged in innovative projects to meet local needs, often using the skills learned in classrooms. In 2009, 3.2 million college students dedicated more than 307 million hours of service to communities across the country, service valued at more than $6.4 billion.  

CNCS oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on

Education. Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors, including the scope and innovation of service projects, the extent to which service-learning is embedded in the curriculum, the school's commitment to long-term campus-community partnerships and measurable community outcomes as a result of the service. For a full list of recipients and descriptions of their service, visit www.NationalService.gov/HonorRoll.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org).  The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus.  The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs.  For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.

About the Corporate for National and Community Service

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Barack Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

Contact: Shari Rodriguez, Associate Vice President of Public Relations
858.513.9240 x2513 - shari.rodriguez@ashford.edu
or
Contact: Larry Libberton, Director of Communications
563.242.4023 x7730 - larry.libberton@ashford.edu

SOURCE Ashford University