Media Room

University of the Rockies’ students provided over 4,000 hours of therapy in the latter half of 2010 and initiated free community programming like the SMART Recovery addiction support group – earning the University a spot on the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes institutions of higher education that support exemplary community service programs and raises the visibility of best practices in campus-community partnerships. This is the highest federal recognition a university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service learning and civic engagement. 

“We are honored to be named to the Community Service Honor Roll,” said Dr. Charlita Shelton, president of University of the Rockies. “This distinction highlights how important community service is to University of the Rockies. Our students and staff are commended for their commitment to service.”

Some examples of University of the Rockies’ community service efforts in 2010 include:

·         SMART Recovery, a free addiction support group coordinated by students and held weekly at the Rockies Counseling Center.

·         The Graduate Student Association’s sponsorship of weekly “Friday Nights In” pizza parties for Inside/Out Youth Services. Inside/Out Youth Services is a non-profit organization that empowers, educates and advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning youth.   

·         Free community programming offered by the Office of Diversity: Incognito and The Black Candle. Incognito was a one-man play featuring Michael Fosberg and his search for his biological father. The play was free to the community and included a discussion on diversity after the performance. The Black Candle was screened at University of the Rockies and was also free to the community. Narrated by Dr. Maya Angelou, The Black Candle traces Kwanzaa’s growth out of the Black Power Movement in the 1960’s to its present-day reality. 

·         National Mix It Up at Lunch Day, where staff and students went to primary schools to facilitate discussions on diversity, helping to break down barriers that separate people in society.

About University of the Rockies

University of the Rockies is a graduate school specializing in master's and doctorate degree programs in the social and behavioral sciences. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org), classes are offered online and at the University's Colorado Springs, Colorado, campus. For more information, please visit www.rockies.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 866.621.0124 x2513.