| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.19 |
| Liaison | Jim Walker |
| Submission Date | Jan. 31, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Texas at Austin
PAE-22: Community Service Participation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.44 / 6.00 |
The number of students engaged in community service:
Total number of students, which may exclude part-time, continuing education and/or non-credit students:
The website URL where information about the institution’s community service initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
In the spring of 2002, the Volunteer and Service Learning Center brought together a team to survey UT students on their volunteer activities. Their findings were as follows:
About 27,000 University of Texas at Austin undergraduate students performed volunteer service between August 2001 and May 2002 according to a study conducted by the University’s Office of Survey Research for the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service. The survey was designed through a collaborative effort of researchers and staff from the RGK Center, Office of Survey Research, Department of Sociology, and University Volunteer Center. The 1,514 respondents were chosen through a random selection of all UT undergraduates enrolled (as full-time students) in the spring of 2002. Surveying was done via 20-minute telephone interviews administered by the Office of Survey Research.
· Seventy-four percent (74%) of students performed volunteer service: 45% reported serving in the community; 25% served in both University and community functions; and 4% volunteered solely for University functions.
· Volunteers spent a mean of 111 hours volunteering.
· On average, students volunteered for two different types of organizations.
· The volunteer rate was higher among women than men.
· Students who volunteered were most likely to have done so because they felt compassion towards people in need, or because they wanted to gain a new perspective.
· Students gave as well as served – 60% of the respondents contributed to charitable causes.
Although an annual survey of the campus is cost-prohibitive (the above effort cost around $40,000), the VSLC has ample anecdotal evidence to support that volunteering rates have held steady, if not increased, in subsequent years including 2009-2010. The division is seeking funding for a new survey to collect updated data.
In the spring of 2002, the Volunteer and Service Learning Center brought together a team to survey UT students on their volunteer activities. Their findings were as follows:
About 27,000 University of Texas at Austin undergraduate students performed volunteer service between August 2001 and May 2002 according to a study conducted by the University’s Office of Survey Research for the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service. The survey was designed through a collaborative effort of researchers and staff from the RGK Center, Office of Survey Research, Department of Sociology, and University Volunteer Center. The 1,514 respondents were chosen through a random selection of all UT undergraduates enrolled (as full-time students) in the spring of 2002. Surveying was done via 20-minute telephone interviews administered by the Office of Survey Research.
· Seventy-four percent (74%) of students performed volunteer service: 45% reported serving in the community; 25% served in both University and community functions; and 4% volunteered solely for University functions.
· Volunteers spent a mean of 111 hours volunteering.
· On average, students volunteered for two different types of organizations.
· The volunteer rate was higher among women than men.
· Students who volunteered were most likely to have done so because they felt compassion towards people in need, or because they wanted to gain a new perspective.
· Students gave as well as served – 60% of the respondents contributed to charitable causes.
Although an annual survey of the campus is cost-prohibitive (the above effort cost around $40,000), the VSLC has ample anecdotal evidence to support that volunteering rates have held steady, if not increased, in subsequent years including 2009-2010. The division is seeking funding for a new survey to collect updated data.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.