2013 USD Fact Book

Leading Change USD’s Catholic social mission and public purpose — to foster compassion and fashion a more humane world — is conveyed in the attitudes, skills and knowledge fostered among its students through a myriad of curricular and extracurricular activities that span from community service to field-based courses to social venture design. As Changemakers, our students are creating positive social impact around the world. They exhibit important traits of the Changemaker, such as empathy, creativity, humility and leadership. In September 2011, USD solidified its position as a leader in developing innovative, socially minded curricula and programs by announcing a landmark partnership with Ashoka, a global nonprofit organization known for its groundbreaking work in the field of social entrepreneurship. Ashoka’s designation of USD as a Changemaker Campus is recognition of the university’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. USD is the first university on the West Coast to join the Ashoka network of Changemaker institutions, and the second Catholic university. Through this designation, USD exchanges best practices on education, research and service for social change with the 19 current members of the Changemaker Campus network, which includes Duke University, Brown University, Middlebury College and Arizona State University. To connect and create more opportunities for the USD community, the university launched the Changemaker Hub as a campuswide manifestation of its commitment to creating a more sustainable and socially just world.

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