Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Faculty and Students Receive National Recognition for Service

Congratulations to the UMKC faculty and students who have been actively engaged in providing national and community service!! The University of Missouri Kansas City was recognized at the American Council on Education (ACE) annual meeting for receiving a Presidential Award from the Corporation for National and Community Service and for being part of The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Provost Hackett received the award on behalf of the university during the ACE meeting in Washington, D.C. The University of Missouri Kansas City was one of the six 2008 Presidential Award Winners, which included California State University – Fresno, Emory University, Michigan State University, Duke University and Brookhaven College. (Read more about the award here.)

As part of the national recognition for UMKC, Dr. Jacob Wagner, Assistant Professor, Architecture, Urban Planning and Design, participated in a panel presentation as an example of the work that is being done by UMKC faculty and students at the national and local community level. Other panelists from Cal State Fresno, Emory, Michigan State, Duke and Brookhaven provided examples of initiatives from their institutions which were the basis for receiving this national recognition. Dr. Wagner and the other panelists discussed the importance of this work for the community and the significant learning experience it is for our students. Panelists also discussed how this work was imbedded in the work of university faculty. A lively discussion with the panelists and the audience represented the energy found in doing this very important community work.

Many times this type of faculty work and student learning goes unnoticed by the university community and the local/national community. NOT TODAY!!! Thank you Dr. Wagner for your excellent presentation on behalf of UMKC and thank you to all of the UMKC faculty and students who continue to work and learn by using service learning as an engaging pedagogy and for doing volunteer work in our local and national communities.

-Written by Cindy Pemberton, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

If you would like to read more about Cindy see our December 31st, 2008 post.

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