Antioch University Seattle (AUS) recently unveiled a new grant program to “encourage recipients to break new ground in the promotion of social justice.”

The “Bruce and Arlene Crandall Social Courage Award” was started with a $30,000 startup donation from AUS Board of Governors member Steve Crandall, and has since received contributions totalling at least $53,000.

The award will "encourage recipients to break new ground in the promotion of social justice."

Starting in Fall 2017, the fund will award grants to AUS students to “enable the research, planning, and testing of actionable ideas for sustainable community improvement,” which the school believes “will reduce the financial barrier between idea and action, and encourage recipients to break new ground in the promotion of social justice.”

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“This program is one way AUS students may take action and deliver on the commitment to social justice that they adopted when they accepted admission,” Crandall explained.“I look forward to the creative and innovative ways future award recipients apply the valuable knowledge and inspiration gained at AUS toward helping and inspiring others through entrepreneurism [sic] and community engagement.”

The award is named in honor of Crandall’s father, a Vietnam War veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, and his late mother, who received a multitude of military honors during her lifetime.

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The school describes the award as consistent with its historical focus on promoting social justice, as the goal of AUS is “to empower students with the knowledge and skills to lead meaningful lives and to advance social, economic, and environmental justice.”

While the fund is administered by the AUS administration, funding comes entirely from donations, and the school is encouraging interested parties to provide support.

Spokespersons for AUS did not respond to requests for comment from Campus Reform about the new grant.

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