Tulane University

New Orleans, LA
Scott Cowen, President
11,307 Students

Despite suffering extensive physical losses in Hurricane Katrina, Tulane University and its students provided impressive leadership, efforts, and expertise for the entire Gulf Region. An estimated 4,290 Tulane students contributed 68,880 hours toward relief activities.

As a direct result of the university hurricane relief efforts, Tulane has established a new Center for Public Service to facilitate ongoing student and faculty collaboration with local agencies to address a host of community problems, and has established a new public service graduation requirement for all undergraduates, beginning with the class of 2010. Students are able to complete the graduation requirement through participation in service-learning courses, academic internships, and other experiential education programs such as URBANBuild, a design and construction program housed within the School of Architecture which provides home design and construction direction to neighborhoods devastated by the hurricane.

Tulane University students also demonstrated their dedication to the New Orleans community in their volunteer efforts after Hurricane Katrina. One of the university’s programs, the Tulane Emergency Medical Service (TEMS) provided service not only to the Tulane campus, but also to the entire Uptown section of the city, leading boat and ambulance evacuation rescue efforts, providing healthcare supplies, and helping establish the first healthcare clinic to reopen in downtown New Orleans.

Another student led group, SAFER (Student Advocacy for Equitable Recovery) worked with students and faculty in Mardi Gras Service Corps, helping to lead major hurricane relief collaborations with community agencies. The groups gutted some 200 houses, 11 churches, three warehouses, and several public schools. In addition, they helped many displaced families return home through the Family Match program.

Other hurricane related relief efforts include the NOLA Hurricane Fund. Under the direction of four undergraduate Tulane students, this organization led some 750 volunteers in fundraising and direct assistance programs, raising $115,000 for hurricane relief. They have also created several programs, such as an entrepreneurial class and a Saturday renovation program.