Service to society

Carley Kadlec, sophomore from Wheaton, Il. majoring in Latin American Studies and History, right, helps a child decorate Christmas tree ornaments at the first WU Chapter of Habitat for Humanity Holiday Party, on Dec. 2, 2007.

A university serves society primarily through activities related to its educational mission. Following are a few other important ways in which Washington University serves its region and society.

• Widespread student volunteerism: Students and student groups feed the homeless, help the elderly with housing maintenance and repair, serve as tutors and teaching assistants in public schools, and work with the Special Olympics, among other activities. Medical students mentor high school students interested in science. The Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic at the School of Law is a pro bono legal and technical resource on environmental problems—ranging from lead poisoning to agricultural and industrial pollution.
  
• Community service: The Gephardt Institute for Public Service serves as the nexus for community service activities at the University.
  
• Leader in K-12 education: Faculty are engaged in research, curriculum development, and pre-college teacher training programs to improve teaching, including better science and technology teaching methods.
  
• Educating leaders: A large proportion of the St. Louis region’s architects, artists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, social workers and social service administrators, teachers, and leaders in business and finance were educated at Washington University.
  
• Educating the community: Nearly 5,000 evening, weekend, and summer students of all ages continue learning through Washington U.’s extensive range of part-time degree and non-degree programs.
  
• Research and new knowledge: As a national research institution, Washington University brought more than $537 million in total research support into St. Louis this fiscal year. Research conducted at the University has added practical and theoretical knowledge that benefits the region, nation, and world.
  
• Major employer: Washington University, the seventh-largest employer in the St. Louis metropolitan area, has 12,694 full- and part-time employees.
  
• Uncompensated patient care: More than $115 million is expended annually through the School of Medicine and the Washington University Medical Center to support uninsured and underinsured patients.