University of Redlands in Top 30 Universities for the ‘Public Good’

The University of Redlands garnered the No. 29 spot—moving up one position from last year—on Washington Monthly’s 2013 master’s universities rankings. This recognition puts the university in the top 5 percent nationally for those institutions noted for their contributions to the “public good,” according to Washington Monthly’s ranking methodology. Schools were rated based on their contribution to the public good in the following three categories. • Social mobility—recruiting and graduating low-income students • Research—producing cutting-edge scholarship and Ph.D.s • Service—encouraging students to give something back to their country “Serving others is an essential ingredient in the ‘cultural DNA’ of the university,” said university President Ralph W. Kuncl. “Our students and faculty are deeply committed to making a positive difference in the world.” The ranking is a testament to the more than 100,000 hours annually that students and faculty dedicate to helping others each year, according to Tony Mueller, director of community service learning. “Our university is committed to service learning, and we will continue that longstanding tradition, offering our students experiences filled with life lessons and good stewardship,” Mueller said. Over the past six years, the University of Redlands’ Campus Diversity and Inclusion Office has led efforts for the university community to think systemically about first-generation, low-income students and issues that may arise specifically for this community, said Leela MadhavaRau, special adviser to the president and associate dean of Campus Diversity and Inclusion. “The Summer Bridge Program and the STEP Peer Mentoring Program are tailored specifically for this population and students who participate in these programs have consistently shown above-average graduation rates,” MadhavaRau said. “There are also programs that serve the K–12 population, encouraging low-income students to consider a pathway to college. University of Redlands students who have traveled this route themselves have organized and designed these programs.” Another example of the commitment to service will occur Sept. 28, which marks the sixth annual Bulldogs in Service Day. The idea for an annual service day began in 2007 after a group of university alumni went to New Orleans to help with cleanup efforts after Hurricane Katrina. Bulldogs in Service started with 14 projects in April 2008. Since its creation, Bulldogs in Service Day gathers nearly 500 participants who help to clean beaches and parks, pack food for the hungry and serve their local communities in many other ways.