Metropolitan State University Named ''College with a Conscience'' by Princeton Review.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Metropolitan State University is one of the nation's best colleges fostering social responsibility and public service, according to The Princeton Review and Campus Compact. It is one of 81 institutions featured in The Princeton Review's forthcoming book, "Colleges with a Conscience: 81 Great Schools with Outstanding Community Involvement."

"We have long prided ourselves on being a university that is sensitive to the issues of our community," said Susan Shumer, Director, Metropolitan State Center for Community-Based Learning. "Our vision refers to 'an unwavering commitment to civic engagement,' which we uphold by connecting faculty, staff and students to community partnerships at many levels."

"A college with a conscience has an administration committed to social responsibility and a student body actively engaged in serving society," said Robert Franek, Princeton Review Vice President, Admission Services. "Education at these schools isn't only about private gain; it is about the public good."

Criteria for inclusion in the book included the college's admissions practices and scholarships rewarding community service; support for service-learning programs, student activism and student voice in school governance; and level of student social engagement.

Metropolitan State University was cited for:

--Classes with community-based learning components. More than 150 course titles have a community connection.

--Internships. Structured field experiences are designed for students individually or in groups.

--Community partnerships. La Familia Guidance Center, a non-profit mental health agency, is one of several agencies supported by university funds, facilities and students who want to learn theory by engaging in real community issues.

Eighty-one schools were selected from more than 900 colleges. Other Minnesota universities included are Augsburg College, Macalester College and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities' campus.

Metropolitan State University (www.metrostate.edu), a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, provides high-quality, affordable academic and professional degree programs at the bachelor's and master's levels. It is the only state university in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

The Princeton Review (www.princetonreview.com) is known for its classroom and online test-prep courses, books and other education services. Campus Compact (www.compact.org) is a national coalition of more than 950 college and university presidents.