SUNY Geneseo Named a Lead Institution in Civic Engagement

For the seventh year in a row, SUNY Geneseo has been named as a Lead Institution in civic engagement by NASPA — Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, a leading student affairs professional organization.

One of 72 colleges and universities in the United States chosen as a Lead Institution, Geneseo was honored for its ongoing commitment to developing socially responsible citizens through its curriculum and co-curricular programs.

“It is a great honor to be included in this network,” said Robert A. Bonfiglio, vice president for student and campus life. “It speaks to the dedication and commitment of our faculty and staff to our mission, and our ongoing efforts to foster a campus culture that celebrates active citizenship that contributes to the common good. This is at the core of who we are as an institution, and a hallmark of the Geneseo experience.”

Bonfiglio cites the College’s GOLD program — Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development — and its many community engagement activities as two of the College’s programs that contributed to this special designation.

Civic leadership and engagement are embedded in a variety of ways at SUNY Geneseo. Some specific successes include:

• Earlier this year, Washington Monthly magazine ranked SUNY Geneseo second overall among 695 master’s universities in the nation for its contributions to the public good across three broad categories: social mobility, research and service. It’s the sixth year in a row that Geneseo has been in the top five schools in the rankings.
• SUNY Geneseo is ranked No. 10 among medium-sized schools on the Peace Corps’ 2018 “Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities” list. Currently, 23 Geneseo alumni are volunteering with the program worldwide. This is the fourth consecutive year that Geneseo has ranked among the top 25 medium-size schools. In 2017, Geneseo ranked No. 14.
• The College consistently appeared on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, having been named on it every year since its inception in 2006.

Fast fact:

• Each year, some 4,400 Geneseo students contribute 205,000 community service hours — equal to 1,220 weeks of round-the-clock volunteering.

The Lead Initiative, developed in 2012, comprises a network of NASPA member colleges and universities who share best practices and professional development opportunities. To learn more about NASPA’s Lead Initiative and view a complete listing of participating institutions, visit the NASPA website.