University of Arizona
PAE-22: Community Service Participation

The University of Arizona does not have a centralized program that records the community service activity of students; however the number of students participating in community service can be estimated using National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE) data and student enrollment numbers. NSSE reports on the proportion of freshman and seniors that perform community service. For the STARS Report, the University of Arizona is using the most current NSSE data (2009) and applying the data to most recent student population figures. To determine the number of sophomores and juniors participating in community service, a linear relationship between class standing and likelihood to engage in community service is assumed. Based on this assumption community service proportions for sophomores and juniors was estimated in a linear fashion using NSSE data as starting and ending points. It must be noted that there is some error associated with the NSSE data due to less than desired response rate (roughly 33%) and time lag created due to administration of the survey every three years. For graduate, doctoral, and non-degree seeking students, 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics data on the percentage of 25 to 34 year olds engaging in community service is used to generate a community service engagement figure for this group, assuming that most graduate students fall within this age range. The sum of students engaging in community service for each class standing was then calculated to create an aggregate UA student community service engagement figure. The number of students in each class standing was retrieved from the University of Arizona's Office of Institutional Research and Planning Support, and NSSE data was retrieved from UA Assessment, a division of the Office of the Provost.