Today it was announced that University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service students have combined to complete more than 1,000 field service projects in Arkansas, across the United States, and around the world.

The combined work of Clinton School students has produced 367,535 hours – or more than 42 years – of civic engagement. Of the completed field service projects, 371 were based in Arkansas. Students have completed projects in 92 countries, nearly half of the U.S. State Department’s recognized independent states. Forty-four projects are in progress this fall.

“The Clinton School’s model of leadership through civic engagement is unique among graduate programs,” said James L. “Skip” Rutherford III, Dean of the Clinton School. “With high graduation rates, high career placement rates, significant community impact and student affordability, project-based learning at the Clinton School is redefining graduate school education.”

The Clinton School offers a practical approach to learning through the combination of coursework and for-credit field service projects. The Clinton School became the first public service program to integrate field service as an academic credit, with about 25% percent of the MPS degree curriculum coming from direct field service learning.

Clinton School students enrolled in the Master of Public Service degree program complete three for-credit public service projects, both domestically and abroad.

The Practicum Project is a team-based initiative during the first year that takes students into Arkansas communities to partner with organizations chosen by the Clinton School to foster community development and social change. The International Public Service Project places students with international organizations across the world during the summer after their first year. The Capstone Project is the culminating field service effort, providing second-year students with an opportunity to complete an in-depth public service project to benefit a government, for-profit, or nonprofit agency of their choosing.

Additionally, students enrolled in the Clinton School’s online degree program complete a Capstone project as the culmination of their degree work. Twenty-nine of these projects are currently underway.

Many Clinton School students have been hired by organizations they partnered with on public service projects. Nearly 85% of alumni surveyed stated that their field service experiences increased their employability. These projects not only provide practi