The University of Richmond
Paul F. "Fritz" Kling, Director of Development, 804-289-8943, E-Mail pkling@richmond.edu
David Dorsey, Associate Chaplain, 804-289-8500
University of Richmond, Va. 23173

Although an idea like the Carver Promise might have arisen almost anywhere, it's not too surprising to see it emerge from the University of Richmond campus. This beautiful, parklike campus on the city's west side boasts a century-old commitment to community service. Although the college is small -- only 3,000 students in a primarily undergraduate program -- it takes service seriously and goes out of its way to see to it that every student not only learns from books but makes it a practice to "reclaim meaning in our lives through service to others."

University officials are modest about all this, shrugging off the notion that there's something special here and generously sharing credit for the Carver Promise, for example, with the other three local colleges that co-sponsor it.

But get them talking about it, and it becomes clear that this university is the driving force behind a lot of good things. Why? Its Baptist tradition is probably a part of it, along with a long-standing organization in which the college chaplain holds an influential position in the university hierarchy and sits as an ad hoc, but active, member on virtually every faculty and staff committee.

As a result, the university's "Remapping Richmond" program is highly visible and open to every student. Here, summarized from the university's Website, , is a summary:

Remapping Richmond is an open invitation to rethink our faith commitments, redesign campus boundaries, and relcaim meaning in our lives through service to others. Community Service is an integral part of the University of Richmond. During the past decade service at the University has dramatically increased -- both in number and strength of community service organizations on campus.

Under that broad umbrella fall a dozen specific service opportunities for students, including:

* ALPHA PHI OMEGA (APO), a national, co-educational service organization in which each member sponsors his own service projects and completes a minimum of 20 hours per semester in the areas of nation, community, campus and personal relationships.

* BONNER SCHOLARS - This program involves 100 students placed in dozens of Richmond-area non-profit agencies, each committing to 10 hours of community service per week.

* COMMUNITY PARTNERS - This is a federal work-study employment program designed to encourage students receiving program assistance to participate in community service activities.

* "GREEK" LIFE - Each fraternity and sorority at the University provides service to the community through specific relationships with individual charities.

* HABITAT - The Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity works in cooperation with Richmond Metropolitan Habitat. Over the past decade, UR has raised more money for Habitat than any college campus in the country, and more than any corporation in Richmond.

* LINCS - Learning In Community Settings works to promote and assist service-learning that integrates community service and the curriculum at the University of Richmond to assist community problem solving.

* RELIGIOUS LIFE - The various religious organizations at the University do a wide range of service projects throughout the year.

* SURVICE - This is an E-Mail list for students and organizations involved in community service.

* VAC - The Volunteer Action Council is a student-created, student-organized community resource center at the University of Richmond, established to network campus involvement in community service for individuals and groups. Specific VAC programs include the Carver Promise, Habitat for Humanity, Helping Educate About AIDS in Richmond Together (HEART), Hunger and Homelessness awareness and hands-on assistance in local shelters and organizations; and Volunteers In Public Schools (VIP Tutoring) between UR students and students from Mary Munford Elementary School.

* VA COOL - Virginia Campus Outreach Opportunity League seeks "to positively affect communities, students, and institutions by promoting and enhancing campus-based community service and service-learning." VA COOL provides consultation and technical assistance on direct service, allocating mini-grants to select programs throughout the state.

All the feature stories on @GRASS-ROOTS.ORG's pages are reported and written by Robin Garr, a prize-winning journalist who has visited more than 500 innovative grassroots programs in all 50 states since 1990.

Browse his book, Reinvesting In America, at Amazon.com.

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