Dive Brief:

• Cornell University is planning a community engagement program — combining learning and helping disadvantaged people globally — that all graduating students will have participated in by 2025.
• The university is starting the program, called Engaged Cornell, with a $50 million grant from the Einhorn Family Charitable Trust and a planned $100 million from other donations, the New York Times reported.
• Cornell will offer grants to professors who develop new courses for the program.

Dive Insight:

According to the Times, Cornell’s plan at this stage is somewhat vague. The university consulted with the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Tulane University, Stanford University, and other schools that have tried similar programs. One factor behind the development of such programs is the interest of accrediting agencies in professional development opportunities provided by higher ed institutions.