Jessica Lax Increasing Ashoka U's breadth of impact Jessica's Bio PublishedJuly 19, 2019 Jessica Lax in Programs • July 19, 2019 Commitments to spark and accelerate more than 200,000 changemakers Washington, DC, July 19th, 2019 —Leading academic institutions, ecosystem building organizations, and individuals across 14 countries announce today a total of 73 commitments to activate #MillionsofChangemakers. These new commitments will directly spark and accelerate more than 200,000 changemakers and indirectly impact millions more. The commitments represent some of the most innovative work being done across higher education to graduate the changemakers the world needs. The announcements are being made as part of Ashoka U’s #MillionsofChangemakers campaign, launched with support from Schmidt Futures. The work of each commitment maker contributes to Ashoka’s vision of creating a world where everyone is a changemaker. In an Everyone a Changemaker™ world, all people have the confidence, skills, and freedom to create change for the good of all. The world is both more resilient and more inclusive because each person – regardless of age or background – plays a role in shaping the future. This announcement showcases the critical role that colleges and universities play in helping society achieve this vision. The commitments announced today represent deep partnerships across and between institutions and their communities, and a commitment to work together to collectively spark and accelerate #MillionsofChangemakers. Commitments include the engagement of: 203,000 individuals in changemaker experiences that spark a sense of motivation and empowerment to take action for the greater good, 13,000 students who will also have an opportunity to practice changemaking as part of their college or university experience. 26 institutions making commitments that will make their campus an environment where more changemakers can thrive, and 12 organizations making commitments to strengthen the changemaker ecosystem in higher education. A sample of commitments includes: The University of New Hampshire in the U.S. committing to grow participation in changemaker curricular and co-curricula programs to 25% of all UNH students (4,000) by 2025. Ashoka Canada, Colleges and Institutes Canada, McConnell Foundation (Re-Code), and Universities Canada committing to forming the Canadian Post-Secondary Education Collective (CPSEC) to foster collaborative approaches to social impact/changemaking within the post-secondary ecosystem in Canada. Tecnológico de Monterrey’s HUB for innovative social entrepreneurship at Guadalajara in Mexico committing to a 7 city expansion of their Changemaker Day festival – a two-day event that engages hundreds of students to celebrate changemaking. The University of Evansville in the U.S. committing to offer over $1M in changemaker scholarships annually to 75 students (from $18,000/yr for 4 years, up to full tuition for 4 years) who participate in their High School Changemaker Challenge. “These commitments represent only a fraction of the incredible work happening at each of these institutions, and at many more not recognized here” said Jessica Lax, Ashoka U’s Growth & Partnerships Director. “But there is still much work to be done. Today we recognize and celebrate the work of these commitment makers and call on all post-secondary institutions to consider how they can use their assets to help solve global problems and support students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.” The list of 2019 commitment makers is included below. View complete commitments sorted by country or focus area here. Agnes Scott College Oberlin College Algonquin College Peter Milley, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa Antonio Meneghetti College Ohio State University Ashoka Canada Presidio Graduate School Ashoka Mexico, Centroamerica y el Caribe Project Invent BRAC University Centre for Emotional Intelligence & Innovation Project Wayfinder Capilano University, IDEA School of Design RE-CODE, McConnell Foundation Carnegie Mellon University, Integrated Innovation Institute Silicon Valley Campus Red Rocks Community College Centennial College, Centre for Global Citizenship Education and Inclusion Rochester Institute of Technology Coding it Forward Rollins College College for Social Innovation Santo Tomás University Colleges & Institutes Canada SIMA Classroom Dibyabhumi Multiple College affiliated to Tribhuvan University Simon Fraser University Drake University Social Change Innovators Elon University Social Entrepreneurship Akademie Florida International University SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities Fordham University Tecnológico de Monterrey, Guadalajara Georgian College Texas A&M International University Global Citizen Year The Evergreen State College Hanyang University Universidad de Monterrey HKUST Connect, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Universidad del Desarrollo Impact Labs Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP) Koc University Universities Canada Loyola University Chicago, Baumhart Center University of Evansville Marymount University, Saints’ Center for Service University of Florida Memorial University, Faculty of Business Administration University of Houston, SURE Program Miami Dade College University of New Hampshire MOOTS University of Northampton, Changemaker Hub Mount Royal University University of Rochester, Barbara J. Burger iZone National Science Policy Network University of San Diego Nazareth College University of Virginia North Carolina State University Valencia College North Central College Watson Institute Wingate University Read their full commitments here. About #MillionsofChangemakers #MillionsofChangemakers is Ashoka U’s global call for colleges, universities, and higher education innovators to make commitments to spark and accelerate changemakers of all kinds. Commitment makers will submit progress updates in February 2020, and exceptional commitment makers will receive awards at the 2020 Ashoka U Exchange. About Ashoka U Ashoka U is the higher education initiative of Ashoka – the world’s largest community of changemakers. Since 2008, Ashoka U has worked with more than 500 colleges and universities to help build a world where everyone is a changemaker. About Schmidt Futures Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic initiative, founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, that bets early on people who will make our world better — helping people to achieve more for others by applying advanced science and technology thoughtfully and by working together across fields. Contact: Jessica Lax, Growth & Partnerships Director, Ashoka U jlax@ashoka.org Join many of the commitment makers at the Ashoka U Exchange – an annual conference that brings together 700+ higher education innovators, or in the Ashoka U Commons – an online virtual accelerator designed for faculty and staff. Sign up here to be notified for application deadlines, including the opportunity to submit your commitment as part of the 2020 #MillionsofChangemakers campaign. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Jessica Lax Increasing Ashoka U's breadth of impact Jessica's Bio