DukeEngage has earned the University recognition at a national level.
Duke was among six out of 140 candidates in the United States to receive the Higher Education Civic Engagement Award announced Monday. The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars recognized Duke for its commitment to community service in other parts of the world through the DukeEngage program. DukeEngage, which was launched in 2007, provides opportunities for undergraduate students to volunteer all over the world in individual and group projects.
“The award will really solidify Duke’s reputation as a national leader in civic engagement,” Executive Director of DukeEngage Eric Mlyn said. “It really will raise our national profile—we’ve already been recognized by applicants to Duke as a leading program.”
The award does not include a monetary prize. DukeEngage recently received a $190,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation in late May, The Chronicle reported in June. The grant was directed in part to fund the DukeEngage Academy, a two-day training period for all program participants.
“Duke University has created an environment that brings students and community organizations together, showing that the best and most well-rounded academic experience is not just defined by classroom learning,” President of the Washington Center Mike Smith said in a Sept. 19 news release.
Smith and other officials from the Washington Center could not be reached for comment.
To apply for the award, applicants were asked to submit a two-page description of their community involvement, illustrating its impact and explaining how it can be used as a model for other institutions, according to the Washington Center’s website.
Duke will formally receive the award at a luncheon and gala celebration scheduled for Oct. 3. President Richard Brodhead, who was originally slated to attend the gala, cannot attend due to a prior engagement. Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education, will attend instead, Mlyn said.
DukeEngage provides a strong foundation to develop a culture of civic engagement on campus, said Leela Prasad, faculty director of the Duke Center for Civic Engagement and associate professor of religion. For the past two years, Prasad has coordinated DukeEngage programs in India.
“I think it’s important to recognize DukeEngage—it helps at least start the cultivation of civic engagement on campus,” she said. “But it’s also important to recognize that it’s not a standalone experience but also a point in a continuum of civic engagement.”
Although she appreciates awards for community service, Prasad noted that the University will continue to develop its programs regardless of the level of recognition it receives.
“We are actively shaping pathways but leaving enough room for self-discovery,” she said.
The award is a reminder of the collaborative nature of DukeEngage and its success, said junior Sanjay Kishore, president of the Duke Partnership for Service. The mission of DukeEngage drives his work in encouraging community engagement on campus, he added.
“We’re thinking about how we can capture the spirit of the Duke community to help others,” Kishore said. “We’re looking to see if there is any way we, as a campus, can come together on the importance of civic engagement.”
Kishore noted that dPS is hosting the “Eureka Symposium” in October, which will focus on social change and will include a joint forum with faculty and students. During the event, participants and speakers will discuss topics such as the safety and affordability of medicines developed at Duke and the business practices of Duke’s vendors.
The Washington Center collaborates with colleges and universities in the United States and other countries to provide students with opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C., for academic credit, according to its website.
In addition to Duke, Benedict College, Augsburg College, DePaul University, Florida Gulf Coast University and San Francisco State University received the award.
“If you look at the committee that chose the awardees, it’s a sample of national civic engagement leaders,” Mlyn said. “We are obviously very honored.”
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