In the City for Good

As Rockhurst celebrates its centennial it stands firm in its commitment to its Jesuit heritage and to its location in mid-town Kansas City along historic Troost Avenue and the grand Paseo Boulevard. Rockhurst has a strong impact on the city and community, which can be noted in several of our long-standing projects and accomplishments.

Rockhurst has created a legacy of educating and transforming young individuals into engaged community members who embody the Jesuit tradition of being men and women for and with others. The university continues to make a significant economic and cultural impact in our Kansas City community.

Economic Impact

• Rockhurst is one of the largest employers in southtown Kansas City with approximately 365 employees. $17.8 million is spent annually in salaries and $4.7 million is spent in benefits. This allows Rockhurst to contribute to $178,000 in earnings tax to the City of Kansas City, Mo.
• 65% of Rockhurst alumni live and work in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
• Rockhurst provides over $18 million in financial aid and scholarships to students annually. 98% of undergraduate students who enroll receive financial aid.
• Enrollment for 2008-09 academic year was 2,691 student, which include 1,521 full-time undergraduates, 330 part-time undergraduates and 840 graduates. Students spend an estimated $3.4 million on discretionary items and services such as food, clothing and entertainment.

Social Impact

• Rockhurst opened its Community Center as an outreach to the 49/63 neighborhood and greater community in 2002. Since then the community center has continued to grow in popularity and continue to provide free meeting space for nonprofit community agencies, civic groups, school district affiliated groups, and neighborhood organizations.
• 12,734 people crossed the Community Center’s threshold in 2008. 51 organizations used spaced for a total of 1,365 hours, which is the economic equivalent of $137,268.

• Service in the Jesuit tradition is a paramount piece of the culture and experience of Rockhurst University. Students participate in community service and in service-learning courses at their own will giving on average an aggregate 25,000 hours of service per year.
• The Finucane Service Project is a student-led service event for new students during orientation in the fall. More than 500 members of the Rockhurst community participate.
• Safe Trick-or-Treat is a student-led project, which offers neighborhood children a safe place to celebrate Halloween with their families. The families enjoy a “haunted house” and treats. In 2008, 800 visitors attended and more than 80 students volunteered.
• Other service events include RU College Bound, Ceremony of Lessons & Carols, and Global Youth Service Day.

• Rockhurst offers students, who qualify for the Federal Work Study program, the opportunity to participate in Community Work Study, which allows them to tutor or mentor youth in the community.
• Rockhurst partners with agencies such as the Kansas City Urban Youth Center, Operation Breakthrough and St. James United Methodist Church to offer students this unique opportunity to integrate work experience with community service. Students participating in 2008 completed an aggregate 822 hours.

Partners

• Rockhurst University is in the city for good. The university continues to build strategic partnerships that strengthen our community and offer unique educational opportunities for our students. The university has many long-term community partners. Here are a few.
• City of Kansas City, Mo
• Brush Creek Community Partners
• Greater Kansas City Chamber of Community
• Southtown Council
• Hogan Preparatory Academy
• Kauffman Foundation