The Art Institute of Atlanta Named to 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

ATLANTA (GA) – The Art Institute of Atlanta is one of 12 Georgia institutions of higher learning to be named to the 2009 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll award, recognized more than 700 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice. On campuses across the country, thousands of students joined their faculty to develop innovative programs and projects to meet local needs using the skills gained in their classrooms. Business students served as consultants to budget-strapped nonprofits and businesses, law students volunteered at legal clinics, and dozens of others organized anti-hunger campaigns.

“Our nation's students are a critical part of the equation and vital to our efforts to tackle the most persistent challenges we face,” said Patrick Corvington, the Corporation’s CEO. “They have achieved impactful results and demonstrated the value of putting knowledge into practice to help renew America through service.”

College students make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector; in 2009, 3.16 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service. Each year, the Corporation invests more than $150 million in fostering a culture of service on college campuses through grants awarded by its programs; the education awards that AmeriCorps members receive at the conclusion of their term of service to pay for college; and through support of training, research, recognition, and other initiatives to spur college service.

The other Georgia colleges and universities to be included on the Honor Roll are: Agnes Scott College, Chattahoochee Technical College, Columbus State University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Morehouse College, Oglethorpe University, University of Georgia, and Wesleyan College.

The Corporation oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact, and the American Council on Education. Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors including scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.