Tulane Center for Public Service

What Tulane Center for Public Service does

Tulane Center for Public Service (CPS) is an academic administrative unit within Tulane University, founded in 2006 and headquartered at 6823 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Center administers Tulane's mandatory Public Service Graduation Requirement for all undergraduates and coordinates a portfolio of approximately 15 programs spanning service learning courses (20-40 hour community placements across 30+ academic departments), the Public Service Internship Program, international service-learning programs in India and St. Martin, Peace Corps Prep, and leadership cohorts including Aurora Leadership Academy, Weatherhead Scholars, and Community Service Fellows. Community-facing sub-programs include the Tulane Debate Society and Crescent City Debate League (serving over a dozen New Orleans middle schools), the For The Children literacy program, and the AmeriCorps VISTA liaison program.

The Center operates on a non-commercial model rather than a revenue-generating business model. Funding flows from Tulane University's operating budget allocation, student tuition (covering service learning course and internship program fees), external grants (notably a $1.5M Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant in 2017 for the Mellon Graduate Program and community-engaged research grants up to $10,000), and charitable donations including the Andrew A. N. Pritzker Endowed Fund from the TAWANI Foundation. Technology infrastructure relies entirely on third-party platforms — GivePulse for community engagement tracking, WaveSync (CampusLabs) for student engagement and internship applications, Airtable for partner listings and forms, Canvas for online seminars, TurboVote for voter registration, and Qualtrics for faculty grant applications. There are no proprietary technology assets, no AI/ML capabilities, and no API or developer-facing products.

The Center serves four primary constituencies: Tulane undergraduate students (primary, mandatory participation), Tulane faculty (service learning course development), community partner organizations across New Orleans and internationally (hundreds of nonprofits, schools, and government agencies), and external beneficiaries including middle school students and civic organizations. The Center employs approximately 56 staff including an Executive Director (Agnieszka Nance, Ph.D.), an Associate Director, four Assistant Directors, multiple Senior Program Coordinators and Program Managers, and student leaders. Operations span single-country domestic focus (New Orleans / Southeast Louisiana) with select international programming in India and St. Martin.

Name

Tulane Center for Public Service

Legal name

Tulane Center for Public Service

Website

https://cps.tulane.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tulane Center for Public Service is an academic unit within Tulane University that administers the mandatory public service graduation requirement and runs ~15 service-learning, internship, civic engagement, and leadership programs for undergraduates, faculty, and community partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Public Service Programs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Service learning programs
• Civic engagement education
• Public service internships
• Community engagement research
• Student volunteer programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. University Budget Allocation: Primary funding from Tulane University's operating budget supporting the Center's administrative functions, staff salaries, and program operations.
2. Student Fees: Service learning course fees and internship program fees incorporated into student tuition for associated academic credits.
3. Grant Funding: External grant funding from foundations including Andrew W. Mellon Foundation ($1.5M grant for Mellon Graduate Program), TAWANI Foundation, and community-engaged research grants up to $10,000.
4. Donations: Charitable donations through Tulane's giving platform supporting specific programs such as the Andrew A. N. Pritzker Endowed Fund for the Tulane Debate Society and general Center operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Tulane Center for Public Service administers the university's Public Service Graduation Requirement and provides service learning courses, internships, civic engagement programming, and community-based research opportunities for Tulane students. It coordinates partnerships with over 100 community organizations in New Orleans and supports programs such as AmeriCorps VISTA, Community Service Fellows, and the Tulane Debate Program. Operations are anchored at 6823 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA, and the center serves as the central node connecting students, faculty, and external community partners.

Product overview

The Tulane Center for Public Service (CPS) is an academic administrative center that administers the Public Service graduation requirement for undergraduate students and manages multiple public service leadership programs. The core offering consists of Service Learning Courses and the Public Service Internship Program, supplemented by International Programs (India and St. Martin), Peace Corps Prep, and various student leadership programs including Community Engagement Advocates, Service Learning Assistants, Aurora Leadership Academy, Weatherhead Scholars, and Community Service Fellows. CPS also operates community programs including the Tulane Debate Society (Crescent City Debate League), For the Children literacy program, AmeriCorps VISTA, and Civic Engagement Coalition with Tulane Votes. The center provides funding through student awards/scholarships/grants and faculty funding programs, and manages Community-Based Participatory Research initiatives. All programs are designed to unite academics and action, classroom and communities to transform civic life in New Orleans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tulane Civic Engagement Coalition: Coalition bringing together students, faculty, and campus administrators to cultivate campus culture of informed and active civic participation
• Tulane Votes
• Tulane Debate Society
• For The Children (FTC)
• AmeriCorps VISTA
• Peace Corps Prep
• Weatherhead Scholars Program
• Community Service Fellows
• Community Engagement Advocates (CEA)
• Service Learning Assistants (SLA)
• Aurora Leadership Academy
• Tulane Himalayan Experience Program
• Engage in St. Martin

Products and services

• Public Service Graduation Requirement Program A mandatory graduation requirement structured around public service engagement for Tulane University students. The program defines approved service activities, tracks completion, and integrates with academic credit.
• Service Learning Courses Credit-bearing academic courses that combine classroom instruction with structured community-based service placements for Tulane students. Course offerings are coordinated across faculty and approved community partner sites.
• Public Service Internship Program Internship placements coordinated through the center for Tulane students seeking applied public service experience with community organizations and public agencies.
• Community Service Fellows Program Fellowship-style program that places Tulane students in sustained community service roles with partner organizations, supporting deeper engagement than one-time volunteering.
• AmeriCorps VISTA Program Program administering AmeriCorps VISTA national service placements hosted at the center, connecting Tulane students and recent graduates with anti-poverty service opportunities.
• Tulane Debate Program Competitive and instructional debate program for Tulane students, positioned within the center's civic engagement portfolio to develop argumentation and civic discourse skills.
• Civic Engagement Academy Structured civic engagement curriculum delivered to incoming Tulane students during orientation, introducing public service concepts and pathways.
• Community-Based Participatory Research Support Grant-funded support for faculty-led community-based participatory research projects that pair Tulane researchers with community partners on applied public service questions.
• International Public Service Programs International public service engagement offerings that extend the center's programming beyond the New Orleans region, connecting students with global service opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over a dozen middle schools actively participate in debate programs annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Crescent City Debate LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Collaborative partnership between Tulane Debate Society and students, teachers, and principals at over a dozen New Orleans middle schools, one middle school in Hazlehurst MS, and students and faculty at Xavier University. Focuses on providing opportunities for middle school students to engage in civil and civic discourse.
• LHA Charitable Trust (India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity engagement partner for the Tulane Himalayan Experience Program in India. Students spend four weeks in North India involved in community service projects while engaging in cultural learning opportunities.
• Deer Park Institute for the Study of Indian Wisdom TraditionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for the Tulane Himalayan Experience Program offering courses on Indian philosophy and traditions.
• Navdanya Seed Research Institute and Earth UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner for the Tulane Himalayan Experience Program focused on organic farming, seed sovereignty, and biodiversity.
• 4 Real We Agree With Culture Association (St. Martin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRastafari community organization partnering with the Engage in St. Martin program. Students develop mentorships with community members and learn from local leaders, officials, artists, activists, and scholars.
• GivePulsecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform used as the primary database for faculty and students to find community engagement opportunities, track service-learning hours, promote and sponsor events, and create impact reports.
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Approved Sites (30+ organizations)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of approved internship sites including Alliance for Affordable Energy, Audubon Institute, Bayou Rebirth, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and other environmental organizations.
• Musical Cultures of Gulf South Preferred Sites (20+ organizations)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred internship sites including ACLU Foundation of Louisiana, Southern Food and Beverage Museum, New Orleans Film Society, and other cultural organizations.
• Louisiana Secretary of StateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing voter registration information, election dates, and TurboVote integration for student civic engagement.
• History Department Approved SitesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerApproved internship sites including Amistad Research Center, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, The National WWII Museum, Historic New Orleans Collection, and Louisiana State Museum.
• International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association for which the Center houses the Administrative Director (Tiana Nobile), supporting research and scholarship in service-learning.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UVA Center for Civic Engagement: University of Virginia's civic engagement center offering service learning, community-based research, and AmeriCorps programs. Comparable in program mix (service learning courses, internships, community partnerships) and target student population.
• Stanford Haas Center for Public Service: Stanford University's flagship public and community service center. Most directly comparable to Tulane CPS as a university-based academic center administering service learning, internships, community-engaged scholarship, and student leadership programs within a private research university.
• Tufts Tisch College of Civic Life: Tufts University's school-level civic life institution (unique in being a college rather than center). Highly comparable as it combines service learning, community partnerships, research, and graduate-level programming around civic engagement at a private research university.
• Brown Swearer Center for Public Service: Brown University's center for community-engaged learning and public service. Closely comparable as a university-based center running service learning, community partnerships, civic engagement, and faculty development programs serving undergraduates at a private research university.
• Columbia Center for Civic Engagement: Columbia University's civic engagement office administering service learning and community partnerships. Comparable in mission and program mix, serving undergraduate and graduate students at a private research university.
• Georgetown Center for Social Impact: Georgetown University's social impact and community engagement hub. Directly comparable in mission (uniting academics and action), target audience (undergraduates), and program portfolio (service learning, internships, community partnerships) within a private research university context.
• Vanderbilt Center for Community Engagement: Vanderbilt's center running service learning, community partnerships, and AmeriCorps VISTA programs. Comparable in scale, public-private university setting, and portfolio of community-engaged programming serving undergraduates.
• Duke Center for Civic Engagement: Duke University's civic engagement center. Comparable as a university-based hub for service learning, civic dialogue, and community partnerships within a private research university, though more research-oriented in emphasis.

Others

• GivePulse: Technology vendor providing the community engagement platform used by Tulane CPS. Listed because Tulane is a customer, representing the enabling infrastructure layer for university-based service-learning centers broadly.

Emerging players

• Campus Compact: National coalition of colleges and universities committed to civic engagement. Comparable as a sector-organizing body that supports the same service-learning and community engagement ecosystem in which Tulane CPS operates, though it is a membership network rather than a service deliverer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tulane_cps
• Facebookfacebook.com/tulanecps
• Instagraminstagram.com/tulanecps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tulanecps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tulane Center for Public Service