More College Students Volunteering Now than in Previous Years
The Corporation for National and Community Service released a report Oct. 16, 2006 that said college students now are more involved in volunteer activities than in the past, according to an Oct. 17, 2006 article by Scott Jaschik titled, “Student Volunteerism Up” that appeared in Inside Higher Ed.
According to the report’s findings, in 2005 the number of college students who volunteered was more than 3.3 million, an increase of 20 percent from 2002, the article stated. “About 30 percent of students about whom data could be obtained engaged in some volunteer activity, up from 27 percent three years prior, the report found. Both the percentage of students volunteering, and the rate of growth in volunteer activities exceed those for the population as a whole. The data in the report are based on surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau.”
Students Likely Influenced by 9/11
The report said it is unclear why there are more volunteer students, but highly likely “that the traditional aged undergraduates in college now were in high school during 9/11 and were influenced by that event,” the article said.
Details on Volunteer Activities
As reported in the article by Jaschik, the report includes the following details about college students and volunteer activities:
- “Tutoring and mentoring are the most popular volunteer activities.
- Volunteer rates are higher among students who also work than among those who have no work responsibilities, although volunteer rates decline for students who work more than 30 hours a week.
- Female students are more likely than male students to volunteer (a gender pattern consistent with adults generally).
- Asked how many hours they spent volunteering in 2005, the top responses were 15-49 hours (27 percent) and 100-499 hours (24 percent).
- The top states for student volunteer rates are Utah, Idaho, Oklahoma, Vermont and Nebraska.
- The bottom states for student volunteer rates are (from the bottom) Georgia, New York, Nevada, Tennessee and Massachusetts.”
The study’s results were pleasing to Mark D. Gearan, who serves as president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Jaschik wrote. Gearan previously served as director at the Peace Corps. In order to avoid stereotyping the current generation of college students, Gearan said people need to know that this group is intent on helping out in their communities through volunteer work.
Jaschik’s article reported that Gearan is expecting “the growth to continue. Not only are students expressing more interest, but colleges are creating programs to help match students to volunteer opportunities and to link community work with academic programs.”
The Education Finance Advisers at NextStudent can help you figure in all your college expenses so that you get the student loan that best suits your needs. Don’t get caught short. Go to www.nextstudent.com for all your student loan needs.
Check back here next Friday for my next blog on Campus Life.
Student Loan Girl