Princeton Review has ranked the University of Portland fifth in the nation among colleges and universities whose students are making a positive impact in their communities through volunteer service, on-campus engagement, and other meaningful contributions.
The Review’s Impact Schools list includes 25 schools which were based on student ratings and responses to survey questions covering community service opportunities at their school, student government, sustainability efforts, and on-campus student engagement. They are also schools with the highest reported percentage of alumni with high job meaning.
The University of Portland’s commitment to service and an education outside the classroom includes a wide variety of extra-curricular programming, including local, national, and international volunteer opportunities through the Moreau Center; an inclusive Campus Ministry program; and an active student government, Associated Students of the University of Portland (ASUP).
Through the Moreau Center, the University offers a variety of opportunities to help students get involved in service projects, from local volunteer efforts to international service immersions. The Moreau Center engages critical human and environmental concerns through active learning, mutually beneficial service, and experience-based leadership development rooted in Catholic social teaching.
Service immersions include working with farmworkers and social service agencies in Washington’s Yakima Valley; learning about immigration, the global economy, and environmental and human rights issues along the Mexican border; and exploring political and justice issues through service work in Nicaragua.
Campus Ministry offers a variety of programs, retreats, faith-sharing groups, and leadership opportunities. The program helps students who are interested in growing in their faith, exploring their identity and their passions, and building a community while in college.
The University of Portland was also one of 127 schools included in the unranked “2018 Best Colleges: West,” which features institutions The Princeton Review considers “academically outstanding and well worth consideration in your college search.”
The complete rankings are available online.