Carnegie Foundation honors Xavier University

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 | Source: SOAPBOX

Xavier University (XU) cares.

This was made clear with the recent announcement that XU is kicking off its Eigel Center for Community-Engaged Learning, born of a gift from XU alumnus James Eigel.

And the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, an independent policy and research institute housed at Stanford University, has taken notice.

XU is one of 10 universities in Ohio, and 149 nationwide, to receive recognition from the Carnegie Foundation for its active engagement with the community beyond campus.

The Carnegie Foundation specifically cited XU's curricular engagement and its outreach and partnerships with the community, as the source of this recognition.

“This is great news for Xavier University and for the Greater Cincinnati area," says XU Associate Vice President for Community Engagement, Byron White. "We are the only region in the state, and probably one of only a handful in the country, with three universities recognized as community
engaged."

That's right: three.

XU joins the University of Cincinnati, which previously received honors for its outreach efforts; and Northern Kentucky University, which the Carnegie Foundation honored for its curricular engagement and outreach.

XU prides itself on acting on its Catholic principles, particularly by engaging with the poor of the community, as is reflected in President Michael J. Graham's welcome statement on XU's website.

Graham has actively pursued community engagement agendas since 2002, with the launch of
XU's Community Building Collaborative @ Xavier, led by White, who also spearheaded XU's Community Building Institute in collaboration with the United Way, which subsequently lead to the creation of the Evanston-Norwood-Xavier Community Partnership, in collaboration with community leaders in both communities.

All of this means more connection between Cincinnati's institutions of higher learning and the community, and the strengthening of both.