Lawrence University Joins National Campaign to Boost Careers in Public Service

APPLETON, WIS. -- In an effort to help the federal government address its growing employment needs in the 21st century, Lawrence University has joined a national initiative designed to help increase student awareness of, and interest in, careers in public service.

Lawrence is one of four colleges and universities in Wisconsin, and 350 institutions nationally, that will participate in the campaign entitled, "Call to Service: Leaders in Education Allied for Public Service."

The campaign will be officially launched Monday, April 22 by the non-profit organization Partnership for Public Service with a ceremony on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James and U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman will be featured at the launch ceremony, addressing the importance of public service and the challenges facing a rapidly aging federal workforce. In the next five years more than one-half of all federal workers will become eligible for retirement, including more than 70 percent of the government's senior managers.

The "Call to Service" campaign seeks to curb a waning interest in government service by focusing on college students who are often unaware of the opportunities and rewards associated with employment by the federal government. Despite a surge of initial interest in public service following the events of September 11, the federal government is facing a growing work-force shortage.

"Public service is a cornerstone of our democratic government," said Lawrence President Richard Warch, "and Lawrence is proud that so many of its alumni have established careers in this sector, at the federal, state, and local levels. While previous generations responded to John F. Kennedy's passionate plea to 'ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,' the bright and talented young people of today must heed a new call to service.

"In joining and working with the Partnership for Public Service, Lawrence will sustain and extend its efforts to inform students about and encourage them to pursue this important career opportunity and the ways in which they can become involved in public service through the federal government."

A recent nationwide public opinion survey commissioned by the Partnership for Public Service on attitudes toward federal civil service found that only one in six college educated Americans express significant interest in working for the federal government at any point in their career. The survey also found that a lack of information about federal employment opportunities is the single greatest obstacle to recruitment.

Joining Lawrence from Wisconsin in the program are UW-Oshkosh, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Whitewater.