The program has included a required afternoon of volunteering for the past two years. Students and staff assist at 26 community projects ranging from helping with a food drive to hospice work. The Orientation Planning Committee, a group made up of students, developed the idea, says Woods. It s a great way to introduce the students to the community in a positive way. The benefits to students active in community service projects are many.
Students often take a personal interest in the community members they serve.
You feel that you re making a contribution on a daily basis to your community. It also provides experiential learning and can demonstrate to a potential employer the ability to design and follow through on projects, says Anderson. Many of the students continue the same project from year to year. They have a real investment in it. Participation in Campus Compact, an organization geared to promote community service on campus, can provide additional benefits.