Study: Volunteering increased 20 percent
Published Oct. 20, 2006
College students are turning out in growing numbers to help their communities, and the increase might be a result of the Sept. 11 attacks, according to a federal study.
"I think we're definitely seeing a continuing stream of volunteers," said Mendy Purdome-Blomberg, a graduate assistant at MU's Office of Community Involvement. "College students seem to be very well-versed and active in the community."
The report, "College Students Helping America," was published by the government agency Corporation for National and Community Service. The report was compiled from U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
According to the report, 3.3 million students volunteered in 2005 and represented 30.2 percent of college students nationwide. This is a 20 percent increase from 2.7 million volunteers in 2002. Missouri is the ninth-ranked state for college student volunteer rates with 38.9 percent of all students volunteering. The report also states that college students are twice as likely to volunteer compared with individuals of the same age who are not enrolled in college.
The report states the increase in community involvement might be a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City.
"Just as the greatest generation was shaped by World War II and the Great Depression, the tragic events of the last few years coupled with growing university and K-12 support for volunteering and service-learning have translated into more college students mentoring, tutoring and engaging in their community in ways that could produce a lifelong habit," Robert Grimm, the corporation's director of research and policy development, stated in a news release.
The news release states that the growth can be attributed mainly to students who were in high school when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred.
Leigh Nutter, a coordinator for the city of Columbia's volunteer services, said she hasn't noticed any significant change in volunteering since the attacks but that this might reflect the dedication of the city's residents before Sept. 11.
"We've been growing pretty steadily," said Haley Becker, the vice president of service for the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega.
The MU and UM-Kansas City chapters of the fraternity have admitted 90 pledges this semester, Becker said, exceeding the goal of 75 pledges for their section of the state. The Columbia chapter of the organization is responsible for service projects including the distribution of recycling bags before football games and volunteering at local non-profit organizations.
"We rely heavily on MU students for volunteer work, especially for special events," Nutter said. "Students here in Columbia do a tremendous work for non-profit organizations in the community."
Nutter said students often volunteer to satisfy class requirements, as part of a student organization, to gain résumé experience or because they want to help their community. She said adults might have a lower volunteer rate because they don't share some of these motivations.
"A lot of students like to have some résumé experience in their field," Purdome-Blomberg said. "Employers like to see students who have some experience, even if it's not formal work experience."
The study reports that tutoring and mentoring are the most popular volunteer activities, garnering 26.6 percent and 23.8 percent of volunteers respectively.
"Working with children is a request we have a lot," Purdome-Blomberg said.
The data in the report were gathered in a survey of 60,000 American households.