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I N T E R N A T I O N A LY E A R O FV O L U N T E E R S

V O L U N T E E R S

Y E A R O F

University Students as Volunteers

University studentsas volunteersThe more education a person has, themore likely he or she is to volunteer.Today’s university students are likelyto be an important source of volunteersfor decades to come. What do we knowabout these young people?

University students who volunteerhave the same personal and economiccharacteristics as those who do notvolunteer, but they show a greateropenness to experience, according toresearch undertaken for theInternational Year of Volunteers.1

These students are characterized byintellectual curiosity, activeimaginations, independent judgment,and a preference for variety in theirlives.

Where they volunteerand what they doThe most common volunteer activitiesdone by university students whoparticipated in this study wereteaching and coaching (24%) andproviding care or support to others(24%).

Students volunteered most frequentlyfor schools (23%), social serviceorganizations (22%), arts, recreationand social clubs (18%), and healthorganizations (11%). Unlike olderadults, very few (7%) volunteeredthrough religious organizations.

University student volunteers in thestudy contributed 23 hours per monthon average. More than one-half (56%)were involved in two or morevolunteer activities.

Most Common Volunteer Activitiesfor University Students, by Percentage

Most Common Organizations Chosen byUniversity Students for Volunteering

Number of Volunteer Activities Taken on byUniversity Students

24% 24%14% 13% 9%

16%

0%

50%

100%

Teaching orCoaching

Providing Careor Support to

Others

Organizing orSupervisingActivities or

Events

Canvassing,Campaigning or

Fundraising

Office/Admin-istrative Work

Other

23% 22%18%

11% 9% 7% 10%

0%

50%

100%

Schools Social ServiceOrganizations

Arts,Recreationand Social

Clubs

Health Organizations

Sports Organizations

ReligiousOrganizations

Other

44%

30%

19%

7%

0%

50%

100%

1 Activity 2 Activities 3 Activities 4 Activities

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Research Program, Canadian Centre for Philanthropy425 University Avenue, Suite 600Toronto, Ontario M5G 1T6Tel: 416.597.2293 Fax: 416.597.2294 E-mail: ccpresearch@ccp.ca

For more information on the International Year of Volunteers,visit www.nonprofitscan.ca.

The Community Engagement Division of Human ResourcesDevelopment Canada (HRDC) provided financial support to thisproject. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarilyreflect those of HRDC, the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, orVolunteer Canada.

© 2002 Canadian Centre for Philanthropy

Susan PhillipsCarleton University

Brian R. LittleCarleton University

Laura GoodineCarleton University

Quick FactStudents who are satisfiedwith their volunteeractivites report greatersatisfaction with theiracademic work, theirphysical health, and life ingeneral. They have agreater sense of meaningand purpose in life.

University Students’ Reasonsfor Volunteering

1 The study surveyed 146 volunteers and non-volunteers fromfirst-year psychology courses at an Ontario university.2 For each volunteer project that they were engaged in, studentswere asked to give the reasons (as many as they wanted) theywere involved in it.

68%

34%

23% 22%16% 15% 12%

4%0%

50%

100%

Values Under-standing

Enjoyment/Fun

Enhance-ment

Social Career Required Other

Why universitystudents volunteerAs the above figure shows, the mostcommon reason university students gave forvolunteering was that it fit with theirpersonal values (68%).2 One-third (34%)volunteered to acquire and exercise newskills and explore personal strengths(Understanding). Almost one in four (22%)got involved to feel needed and to feelbetter about themselves (Enhancement).

What makes volunteeringsatisfying for universitystudents?University students find volunteering mostsatisfying when they:

Learn new skills that can be used inthe work force.Make new friends.Feel “passionately engaged.”

What this meansfor voluntary organizationsIf university student volunteers performnarrowly focused, routine activities with littleopportunity to find their own niche, learnnew things or test out values, they will likelybe dissatisfied with their volunteerexperience.

To retain university students as volunteers,voluntary organizations should find ways toallow their student volunteers to grow. Theycan do this by:

Offering student volunteers the chanceto expand their volunteerresponsibilities.Providing opportunities for studentvolunteers to experiment with newways of doing things.Helping student volunteers learn newthings.