University of Arizona
PAE-23: Community Service Hours

The University of Arizona does not have a centralized program that records the community service activity of students; however the number of community service hours can be estimated using National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE) data, student enrollment numbers, and average participation data generated based on the reported activity of clubs, greek life, residence life and Dean of Students data. 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. Once the number of students completing community service was generated, the average amount of community service hours, determined through an informal study, was used as a multiplier to generate the figure reported here. On average, students engaged in community service complete at least five hours of community service. This estimate is likely underrepresentative of actual community service action since the response rate to the community service participation study was very low.