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D’Youville University has been awarded a $25,000 NetVUE Professional Development Grant to launch a new initiative to integrate service-based learning directly into the university’s general education curriculum. The initiative, which also received additional support through $9,000 from the Sisters of St. Francis Providence Fund and $7,700 from the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Buffalo, represents a total investment of $41,700 to embed community engagement and social impact into every student’s academic experience.

Rooted in the legacy of St. Marguerite d’Youville, the curriculum will provide students with transformative opportunities to connect academic coursework with real-world service, addressing critical issues such as health equity, education, food security, housing, and economic development.

The first curricular offerings supported by the grant, SRV 101: Inquiry & Impact: Community-Engaged Learning I and SRV 102: Inquiry & Impact: Community-Engaged Learning I, are designed as for-credit general education courses that combine classroom learning with hands-on service. Through partnerships with Buffalo-based organizations, students will complete 40–80 hours of community engagement while exploring the social determinants of health and reflecting on how education, income, and environment shape well-being and opportunity.

“This initiative brings D’Youville’s mission to life in a powerful, tangible way,” said Dr. Denise DiRienzo, Chief Mission Officer. “By embedding community-engaged learning into our curriculum, we’re giving all students, regardless of background, the chance to connect their education to purpose. It ensures that every learner can explore their vocational calling while contributing meaningfully to the common good.”

In addition to supporting course development and faculty training, the grant will also provide transportation funding to ensure all students can participate, including those with limited access to public transit.

The initiative is part of D’Youville’s larger vision to make community-engaged learning a hallmark of the student experience, beginning with first-year service courses and extending into internships, clinicals, and professional placements. By expanding the reach of service learning beyond the classroom, D’Youville continues its tradition of preparing compassionate, service-oriented leaders ready to make a meaningful impact.

For more information about D’Youville University, visit dyu.edu

About D’Youville University 

D’Youville University is a nationally ranked private university founded in 1908 and headquartered in Buffalo, New York, which offers degrees in the health sciences and business. D’Youville University promotes a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Through transformational educational experiences, students are prepared for growth, career success, and upward mobility. For more information, visit dyu.edu.