College Students Volunteer in Growing Numbers

College students are volunteering in larger numbers than they did several years ago, according to a report released yesterday by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps, The Chronicle of Higher Education reports. The report says that 3.3 million college students, or 30 percent of all students between 16 and 24, at U.S. colleges had volunteered for various causes, compared with 2.7 million, or 28 percent, in 2002.

Researchers for the agency found that many students in 2005 were involved in tutoring or mentoring programs, with the latter especially popular among black students. About 39 percent of African-American students volunteered with mentoring programs last year, compared with 22.3 percent of white students. The report also says that almost 33 percent of all college-student volunteers served with educational or youth-service groups, and 23 percent participated through religious organizations.

The report, “College Students Helping America,” is based on a study from the Current Population Survey, which began tracking volunteer rates for college students in 2002.

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