In the College of Public Service (CPS) students are empowered to put purpose into action, guided as they are by the principles of justice, service, and community engagement. It's a place where learning isn't just about getting a degree, but becoming a force for good. While it's impossible to list every great thing about CPS, we've picked five fun facts to get you started! Read below to check them out.
1. Majors With a Purpose
CPS offers three dynamic programs: Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Urban Education, with each providing not just an academic track to follow, but a mission students live out every day in class. Students in these programs are prepared to become licensed social workers, bilingual teachers, public health managers, criminal justice reformers, and community organizers.
2. Hands-On Research With Experienced Faculty
Gators in CPS don't just study issues from a textbook, they actively participate in solving them. The four high-impact learning centers and labs: the Social, Technical, and Academic Research (STAR) Lab, the Center for Public Service and Community Research, the Financial Coaching and Stability Lab, and the Houston Justice & Crime Lab, all tackle pressing issues in Houston, such as juvenile justice, elder care, and mental health.
3. Engage With Changemakers Through vitalvoices
The vitalvoices speaker series brings real-world stories and people to campus, as students get the chance to listen to and engage in dialogue with community leaders, policymakers, and prominent academics.
4. Bilingual E-Library: Literacy Without Barriers
The Bilingual E-Library aims to provide children with free, culturally relevant literature in both Spanish and English. This initiative not only helps build literacy but also provides crucial learning resources to multilingual families.
5. A Network of Change Agents
The impact of a CPS education extends far beyond campus. Alumni are on the front lines, working in underserved schools, supporting at-risk youth, and serving their communities. Whether they're police officers, licensed social workers, or bilingual teachers, CPS graduates take the college’s mission of empowering communities and fostering resiliency with them wherever they go and form a strong network of professionals current students can lean on for advice.