University of Texas at Austin
EN-12: Community Service

The RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service conducted a study on volunteerism for the 2001-2002 school year. They found that about 27,000 University of Texas at Austin undergraduate students performed volunteer service between August 2001 and May 2002. 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 in the spring of 2002. Surveying was done via 20-minute telephone interviews administered by the Office of Survey Research. Upon evaluation, the demographic distribution of those surveyed closely matched the true demographics of the student body, including gender, ethnic background, grade level, and academic pursuits. 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. February 2014: While the Longhorn Center for Civic Engagement is still seeking funds (and staff resources) to conduct another survey, methods and opportunities to connect students with volunteering have only improved with more sophisticated technology. Austin is a larger city every year with thousands of opportunities to volunteer on and off campus. There is every reason to believe, and no evidence to the contrary, that the trends outlined in the RGK report have continued. There has been no study conducted on graduate student volunteerism, so this report is on undergraduate students only.