Nazareth Earns National Distinction for Sparking Changemakers
Nazareth College is one of only 26 institutions in the United States to be recognized for its commitment to accelerate changemaking by Ashoka U as part of its global #MillionsofChangemakers campaign. Ashoka U is the higher education initiative of Ashoka – the world’s largest community of changemakers. Ashoka defines a changemaker as anyone who takes action to address a problem, activate others, and work towards solutions for the good of all. Changemakers continuously notice challenges and cultivate solutions in their family, community, workplace, sector, or country.
As part of the campaign, Nazareth is making a commitment to building Changemaker Pathways that connect its students with curricular and co-curricular experiences that advance their commitment to changemaking. Changemaker qualities, competencies, and student learning outcomes will be embedded in first year programming, honors programming, and a forthcoming social innovation course with the goal of graduating students that have the knowledge, skills, experience and volition to advance changemaking.
Nazareth’s commitment is one of 73 commitments announced by leading academic institutions, ecosystem building organizations, and individuals in 14 countries who are working together to spark and accelerate more than 200,000 changemakers.
“Even with this intention, community engaged learning is sometimes siloed within certain professions and disciplines,” said Adam Lewandowski, associate director in the Center for Civic Engagement. “The proposed Changemaker Pathways are designed to enable all students to develop changemaker qualities and competencies through experiential learning opportunities. We are in the process of mapping the ASHOKA Changemaker learning outcomes with the principles and practices of our existing community engagement frameworks, and will use these aligned ethics and standards to measure our student’s growth as changemakers.”
Nazareth College has a history of community engagement with established academic service-learning, professional community health clinics, and co-curricular service experiences. In 2018, 97% of Nazareth's undergraduates participated in some form of civic engagement during their time at the College.
To see all of the #MillionsofChangemakers commitments sorted by country or focus area visit https://millionsofchangemakers.org/commitments/.
For More Information
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | 585-389-2456 or jlong2@naz.edu
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
