Saint Louis University and the Micah House program recently recieved national recognition from The Templton Guide: Colleges That Encourage Character Development. The Templton Guide is a national publication circulated to raise awareness to schools and programs that are encouraging students to live in an ethical and civic-minded way.

St. Louis University was one of 300 colleges and universities mentioned in the guide under 10 different categories.

The Micah House program, named after the biblical prophet who spoke out against injustice, was honored for their strides in developing an integrated freshman program of academics focused on social justice, service and encouraging community and leadership with participants all living on the same residence hall floor.

“I am delighted that the university is being recognized for making improvements in the Freshman year experience a high priority. We are excited about the whole trend of connecting classroom work with outside experiences and to increase interdisciplinary studies of the university and Micah fits in well with the whole first year experience and the vision for SLU 2000,” said Dr. Donald Stump, Director of the Micah House program.

Kristoffer Barikmo, a Junior and Micah House participant, said “This recognition is a great stepping stone for our organization. We are beginning to make our affect on the universtiy as a whole. We are helping to put this university on the map.”

Micah House carries out its three main focuses well throughout the freshman program and the companion program for sophomores, juniors and seniors. The program focuses on interdisciplinary academics by offereing pariticapants to recieve a certificate in community service, social justice, and peace in the American City through. Freshman participants take two core classes that are aimed toward social justice each semester together.

The focus on community service is carried out by the participants in the Shaw Neighborhood. Students take on different roles in the community. Some of the roles carried out by Micah students are working in day care centers, with the elderly, in schools, with the neighborhood association and housing association. Group projects are also carried out in the Shaw Neighborhood.

Community and leadership are encouraged by having freshman participants all living together on four clemens.

Students are able to express their opinons through representation on the advisory board for the program.

“Being in a community with people with similar goals enables us to focus our lives and provide a support of communtiy for service and actions not always accepted in the broader college life,” said Cab Gutting, Micah House participant.