<p>Ever since Katrina wiped out New Orleans.. I have heard Tulane looks at volunteer work a lot when deciding to admit a student.. is that true?</p>
<p>I think it is hard to say if Tulane weights it any more heavily for admissions purposes than a lot of other schools. After all, many schools look very favorably on genuine community service work. What is true, of course, is that Tulane puts a fairly strong emphasis on it once you are there, although it is not overwhelming. So while it is easy to conclude that they must look at this more for admissions purposes, I don’t think it is really that much more than before. Tulane is also very focused on getting incoming classes with even stronger academic profiles each year. Bottom line, like any school Tulane values EC’s in general, and ones that include community service certainly don’t hurt. But I wouldn’t exaggerate the weight they give it, either. They are in competition for top, well rounded students and can’t get too far out of step with their peer institutions. They are not looking to become a Warren Wilson College.</p>
<p>COWEN RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS CARNEGIE AWARD
September 22, 2009
New Wave Staff
<a href=“mailto:newwave@tulane.edu”>newwave@tulane.edu</a>
The national spotlight is shining once again on Tulane University, its president and the civic engagement programs that have been a major focus of its students and faculty members since Hurricane Katrina.</p>
<p>In naming honorees for its prestigious Academic Leadership Award, Carnegie Corp. cited Tulane President Scott Cowen for being an exceptional leader who transformed crisis to opportunity for Tulane and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by Paula Burch-Celentano)</p>
<p>The Carnegie Corp. of New York is awarding Tulane President Scott Cowen its prestigious Academic Leadership Award, along with a $500,000 grant that Cowen will dedicate to a universitywide set of initiatives in civic engagement, including public education and social entrepreneurship. </p>
<p>“This award is for our people, and they deserve it,” Cowen said after the national announcement on Monday (Sept. 21). The Carnegie honor “recognizes the valuable work being done by Tulane to build healthy, sustainable communities, locally and around the world,” he said. </p>
<p>Adding that he was especially honored to be chosen by Carnegie, one of the world’s leading supporters of higher education, Cowen said he hoped the award would “motivate others to support our civic engagement vision as we rebuild our community and provide a unique educational experience for our students.”<br>
Jay Lapeyre, chair of the Board of Tulane, said the award elevates the university’s mission and stature to a new level. “It’s national recognition for Scott’s extraordinary leadership not simply at Tulane, but for the city and region.”
He said to the Tulane community, “I know you all join me in congratulating Scott and, with immense pride, in thanking him for what he does for Tulane University.”
The award made news nationally as Carnegie published an advertisement in Monday’s New York Times announcing the honor to Cowen and leaders of three other universities Leon Botstein, president of Bard College; Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania; and William E. “Brit” Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. </p>
<p>The New York philanthropic foundation chooses “exceptional leaders of American higher education” for the annual honor. It recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in curricular innovation, reform of K-12 education and promotion of strong links between their institution and their local communities.</p>
<p>I hope the USNWR PA respondents see this announcement. Great news for the school.</p>
<p>Tulane has long been committed to community service, even before Katrina.</p>
<p>There was a program called the CACTUS program, where Tulane students tutored inner city kids after school.</p>
<p>Nowadays, I often see a Tulane van driving around, with the words Service Learning, or something similar on the side. So glad that Tulane is continuing their volunteer work.</p>
<p>Yes, CACTUS goes back to my days at Tulane, so been around a long time. My kids would say we had dinosaurs with words on the side, instead of the van.</p>
<p>I think CACTUS still exists, btw.</p>