University Joins Next Generation Service Corps

Montclair State University has partnered with the Volcker Alliance to join the Next Generation Service Corps (NextGen Service), a national network of 11 higher education institutions committed to preparing undergraduate students for public service.

The Volcker Alliance will provide a $100,000 grant for Montclair to hire a Next Generation Service Corps Coordinator in the Center for Community Engagement who will be responsible for the development, establishment and implementation of academic curriculum, community-based opportunities, services, advocacy and research for the program.

As dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University, Montclair President Jonathan Koppell created the Public Service Academy – a first-of-its-kind initiative in higher education that served as the model for NextGen Service. In partnership with the Volcker Alliance, he was instrumental in creating a national network of schools committed to emulating NextGen Service and the Public Service Academy on their respective campuses.

Through NextGen Service, Koppell will now implement the framework for Montclair’s entire diverse University community of 21,000 students.

“We are thrilled to join the Next Generation Service Corps,” says Koppell. “Montclair has a rich history of serving the public good, and this partnership will allow us to continue building on the work already being done throughout the institution. NextGen Service will be one of many programs that create opportunities for every Montclair student to make hands-on public service learning a part of their educational experience. Our goal is to make public service synonymous with Montclair State University, and becoming a formal part of this movement is another critical step toward that goal.”

Through NextGen Service, institutions are introducing college students to public service values and building practical, collaborative leadership skills, regardless of their chosen major. NextGen Service benefits students nationwide, particularly students from underrepresented backgrounds, by opening the door to careers in public service and overcoming long-standing informational and systemic barriers.

NextGen Service institutions include ​Arizona State University, The City University of New York, Georgia State University, University of Houston, Indiana University, University of Nebraska Omaha, Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, North Carolina Central University and University of Washington.

“We are so pleased to welcome Montclair State University into our growing network of universities committed to preparing undergraduate students for public service,” says Sara Mogulescu, President of the Volcker Alliance. “It is fitting that Montclair be part of this group, as President Koppell was the driving force behind starting this movement when he built the Public Service Academy at Arizona State – a model now emulated by the schools in this network. We believe that these programs are instrumental for the future of our democracy: developing young leaders with the talent and wherewithal to rise to the challenges of our time.”

Learn more about the Center for Community Engagement at Montclair State University by visiting its website.