FAIRFIELD—For the fourth consecutive year, Sacred Heart University has earned recognition for students’ community involvement. The Princeton Review ranked SHU 10th out of 20 universities and colleges on its “Students Most Engaged in Community Service” listing. That’s three spots higher than SHU earned last year.
The Princeton Review, an education services company, recently released the 2021 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 386 Colleges. The guide also named SHU as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduates to earn their college degree. Additionally, it placed SHU on its “Most Religious” ranking, and included the University among the “Best Northeastern Colleges.”
“Our students understand the importance of volunteering and giving to those in need,” said SHU President John J. Petillo regarding the community service accolade. “Many of our students spend time on mission trips locally and abroad, working with nonprofits to better the lives of families and children. Social justice is a key piece of SHU’s mission, and our strong tradition of community service is an expression of that.”
In SHU’s profile, The Princeton Review said, “Sacred Heart is a university that’s imbued with a tremendous amount of ‘school spirit’ and ‘an amazing sense of community.”
Under the “Academics” section in the profile, The Princeton Review wrote, “Students love that the campus is ‘very modern,’ with whiteboard-stacked classrooms that feature ‘many unique features other schools lack’ and ‘VR for classroom exercises, which enhanced the learning experience.’”
The section goes on, “Sacred Heart prioritizes ‘real work experience’ and provides ‘a lot of networking opportunities that are very valuable.’ Undergrads also suggest that small classes help ‘make the learning experience very personal.’ Students also seem to hold their professors in high regard as well.”
According to The Princeton Review and the student response survey it conducted, “When students arrive on campus, they are pleased to discover just how ‘selfless’ and ‘supportive’ their classmates truly are.”
One student quoted by The Princeton Review said, “Every day when I go to class, a fellow student is always holding open the door for me.”
Another undergraduate wrote, “There is an enthusiasm that you can’t fake that comes from the president all the way down to the students. People here genuinely care for others.”
“Receiving a glowing profile from The Princeton Review, as well as the other accolades, is a testament to the University’s commitment to providing students with top-tier experiences and facilities to learn and grow in,” said Pam Pillo, executive director of undergraduate admissions. “This ranking confirms that Sacred Heart meets students’ needs and allows them to thrive.”
Only about 14% of America’s 2,800 four-year colleges are profiled in The Best 386 Colleges guidebook, which is one of The Princeton Review’s most popular publications. The company chooses colleges based on data collected annually from administrators at hundreds of colleges about their institutions’ academic offerings. The Princeton Review also considers data from surveys of college students, who rate and report on various aspects of their campus and community experiences for this project.
“We salute Sacred Heart University for its outstanding academics, and we are truly pleased to recommend it to prospective applicants searching for their personal ‘best-fit’ college,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 386 Colleges.
Photo details: Sacred Heart University’s Office of Volunteer Programs & Service Learning, Student Government, Residential Life and many student athletes helped to distribute Thanksgiving food at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Bridgeport as part of SHU’s annual food drives to benefit the needy. Photo by Tracy Deer-Mirek
About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland and offers online programs. More than 9,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 385 Colleges—2020 Edition, “Best in the Northeast” and Best 252 Business Schools—2019 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theater.
