2015 USD Fact Book

Leading Change The University of San Diego’s Catholic social mission and public purpose — to foster compassion, active citizenship and to fashion a more humane world — is conveyed in the attitudes, skills and knowledge fostered among its students through myriad curricular and extracurricular activities that range from community service to field-based courses to undergraduate research to social venture design. The Ashoka U designation of USD as a Changemaker Campus — recognizing the university’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems — is in its fourth year. As Changemakers, our students, faculty and staff are creating positive social impact locally and abroad. In 2011, the University of San Diego launched the Changemaker Hub, a campus wide manifestation of the university’s mission and values with the purpose of empowering and enabling the campus community to be Changemakers. The hub works with numerous partners on campus to provide a set of distinctive opportunities for all to employ imagination, hard work and passion to explore what it means to be a Changemaker; encouraging students, faculty and staff to act and collaborate in creating a better world. The University of San Diego offers students multiple opportunities to grow as Changemakers. There is a portfolio of challenges that includes competitions such as the Changemaker Challenge, inviting everyone to submit creative solutions to a social problemposed by the San Diego community. Students can create their own projects as a Changemaker Summer Fellow or by getting involved in a Changemaker-designated student club or organization. In Fall 2014, with the support of a generous grant fromU.S. Bank, the Changemaker Hub established the Impact Linda Vista Initiative. This project provides faculty and students the opportunity to work together with community partners to create positive social impact. To learnmore about how USD engages in changemaking, go to www.sandiego.edu/changemaker.

8 UN I V E R S I T Y O F S AN D I E GO / 2 015 FAC T B OO K