2020 -- H 7489

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LC004381

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE ADMINISTRATION, STAFF, AND STUDENTS OF ROGER

WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY FOR EARNING A 2020 CARNEGIE COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT CLASSIFICATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Donovan, Speakman, Marszalkowski,
and McEntee

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Roger Williams University (RWU) has earned the prestigious Carnegie

Community Engagement Classification for "…doing extraordinary work in addressing their

societal responsibilities in and through community engagement and service"; and

     WHEREAS, Receiving this Classification requires a rigorous, accreditation-like process

and to date, only 359 colleges and universities have earned the classification from the Carnegie

Foundation; and

     WHEREAS, Community engagement is about teaching, research and service that

supports a "mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership

and reciprocity" in order to "enrich scholarship, research and creative activity; enhance

curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic

values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good";

and

     WHEREAS, Some of RWU's projects to date include, working in Central America with

the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC), the Hassenfeld Projects

initiative, Gateway to College program, Providence Talks, Ready to Learn, English-as-a-Second

Language Teacher Certification Program, Alternative Spring Break program, and working pro

bono with the Marine Affairs Institute, to name just a few; and

     WHEREAS, During the 2017-18 school year, almost half of the University's population

participated in community-engaged courses as well as volunteering for community projects in

conjunction with the Feinstein Community Connections day, Food Recovery Network, Habitat

for Humanity and Engineers Without Borders; and

     WHEREAS, Roger Williams is one of only two institutions in Rhode Island with this

Carnegie Community Engagement Classification; and

     WHEREAS, This achievement is a testament to RWU's successful partnerships with a

panoply of community organizations and the countless faculty, staff and students who share and

have made possible, the University's commitment to advancing the public good; now, therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates the administration, staff, and students of Roger

Williams University for earning a 2020 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. We

moreover thank them for their dedication to the people of this state and wish them much

continued success; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ioannis Miaoulis, President of Roger Williams

University.

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LC004381

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