The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, launched in 2006, recognizes colleges and universities nationwide that support innovative and effective community service and service-learning programs. The Honor Roll's Presidential Award, given each year to only a handful of institutions, is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. The Honor Roll is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and is sponsored by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the USA Freedom Corps, and the U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development.

Award Levels

• Honor Roll: Applicants will be listed on the Honor Roll if the projects described are deemed to be meaningful and relevant, and if the institution meets the basic eligibility requirements listed above.
      
• "With Distinction": The top tier of applicant institutions, under either application category, will receive this designation, based on the selection factors below.
      
• Presidential Awards: The top three applicants under each category will receive this special recognition, based on the selection factors below.

Selection Factors

• Reviewer evaluations of the scope, innovativeness, and evidence of effectiveness of the service projects described in the application.
      
• Percentage of total student enrollment engaged in community service activities.
      
• Percentage of total student enrollment engaged in at least 20 hours of community service per semester.
      
• Percentage of total student enrollment engaged in academic service-learning courses.
      
• Extent to which the institution offers academic service-learning courses.
      
• Whether the institution requires academic service-learning as part of the core curriculum of at least one major.
      
• Whether the institution rewards the use of academic service-learning through faculty promotion and tenure decisions, or other means.
      
• The institution’s latest Federal Work-Study community service participation rate, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education.
      
• Whether community service or service-learning is cited in the institution’s mission statement or strategic plan.
      
• Whether the institution supports at least one full-time staff member as a coordinator of student community service or service-learning activities.
      
• Whether the institution provides scholarships or other financial rewards for community service, such as “matching” of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award.
      
• The ratio of institutional alumni who are current AmeriCorps members to total current enrollment.
      
• The ratio of institutional alumni who are current Peace Corps members to total current enrollment.
      
• The percentage of total current students who are Army, Navy, or Air Force ROTC members.