Summer break can be a great time for your student to work and to build up their savings account. But, don’t overlook the value of having extra time for volunteer opportunities too. Even though college students are less likely to volunteer than their parents or high school students, and tend to volunteer fewer hours, they still believe it’s important to help others in need. Turning sentiment into action becomes a win-win situation for both college students and the communities they serve.

Why should college students volunteer?

Volunteering has its advantages for any individual, yet there are specific benefits of community service for college students that can lead to positive outcomes for university volunteers and the communities they serve. 

Boost Resume and Improve Job Prospects

According to a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, volunteering is associated with higher employment. Employers are 82% more likely to choose a candidate with volunteering experience and 85% more likely to overlook resume flaws when the candidate’s resume includes volunteer experience. Students that enter the workforce with volunteer experience are not only boosting their resumes but are effectively standing out among other potential (and equally qualified) candidates when it is time to fill open positions. 

Develop Skills

Volunteering can also help students grow in their learning. Through community service, students gain real-world experience and practice important habits like leadership, problem-solving, and time-management. Volunteering offers students the opportunity to apply their classroom learning to practical scenarios that have real implications. In other words, service-learning opportunities can offer the same skills-boosting opportunities as student internships, but with the added benefit of improving the lives of others.

Make Connections

Nonprofits partner with other businesses, organizations, and change-makers in their communities. Working with charity organizations is a great way for students to explore career paths, and nonprofit employees (even other volunteers) are usually more than happy to put their volunteers in touch with the right people. Furthermore, nonprofit professionals can offer helpful career advice to help guide students in their studies. 

Lead More Balanced Lives

While college is an immensely rewarding (and fun) experience, it comes with its share of stress. It’s a time when young adults learn to become independent, manage their time, and find their way in the “real world.”  Extra-curricular activities like volunteering can help volunteers with time-management and improve emotional well-being. In fact, there are many studies that cite the mental and physical health benefits of volunteering, and that students who participate in community service often become social-minded individuals for life.

The Numbers Confirm It

It’s clear that volunteering is good for college students., and there is data to prove it. We’ve pulled together statistics on community service benefits from a variety of industry surveys and reports:

Employment:

• Volunteering is associated with a 27% higher chance of employment.
• Employers are 82% more likely to choose a candidate with volunteering experience.
• Employers are 85% more likely to overlook resume flaws when the candidate’s resume includes volunteer experience. 

Community Impact

• The value of volunteer time in 2019 was $25.43 per hour, demonstrating the significant contributions volunteers make to their communities.  
• A study by the University of Texas Austin found national service programs strengthen the overall health of communities. For example, citizens expressed fewer negative sentiments in communities with AmeriCorps programming.  
• ⅓ of college student volunteers work with community youth service programs or educational institutions. Students tend to prefer tutoring and mentorship opportunities. 

Volunteer Health

• A 2018 study on volunteerism and health found that participants experienced an 8.5% increase in mental health, and a 4.3% decrease in depression after volunteering regularly. The same study found that participants experienced a 9% increase in physical health.
• A UK survey for Community Service Volunteers (CSV) found that 48% of participants who volunteer for more than two years expressed reduced feelings of depression. 

It’s clear that volunteers reap many benefits from their experiences. Missouri S&T Student Involvement provides students with many resources for volunteering.  With the goals of strengthening the community, building bridges of understanding, empowering individuals to become effective change makers, and creating solutions that affect the greater community, both volunteers and the communities they serve experience a winning situation.

Article adapted from galaxydigital.com: The Benefits of Volunteering for College Students:  Community Service Programs in Higher Education. Please Note: Missouri S&T does not endorse or have a relationship with SOURCE and articles are provided for information purposes only.  Missouri S&T and SOURCE do not assume responsibility for error or omission in materials.  

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