1970s – Community service is very limited. A few students serve as reading tutors, and the Association of Black Collegians runs the Black Children Can program. Chaplain Gary Miller holds brown bags on social and ethical issues, including the Karen Ann Quinlan right-to-die case and peace efforts in the Middle East.
1983-84 – Fr. Tom Hagan, Catholic chaplain from 1983 to 1991, forms the Soup Kitchen, Prison Tutoring, and Adopt a-Grandparent programs.
1985-90 – The College joins Campus Compact, a new national nonprofi t promoting community service in higher education. Hagan begins taking students on service trips to Haiti.
1990-95 – With a grant from the Presbyterian Church (USA), Miller hires Susan Ruggles as part-time director of community service programs, and they establish an outreach center in the new Farinon College Center. Ruggles becomes a full-time employee. At its 25th reunion, the Class of ’69 makes a $200,000 gift to the center’s endowment. Students found the Kids in the Community program in Easton’s public housing neighborhoods.
1999 – The center is dedicated as the Landis Community Outreach Center, honoring John W. Landis ’39 and his wife, Muriel, for their commitment of $1 million to create a major endowment in support of the College’s community service activities.