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Iowa college students rank second in the nation in volunteerism
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2010
PELLA — According to a report released by Volunteering in America, Iowa college students rank second in the nation in volunteering within the college student demographic up from 32nd in 2006, with 41 percent of college students volunteering their time in 2009.
As a state, Iowa has the second-highest volunteer rate in the country with 38.7 percent of its residents volunteering their time in 2009, surpassing its fifth-place ranking from the year before. Utah ranks first in the country as a state and first in the college student demographic.
“We are extremely pleased with the results of this year’s ranking,” said Rachel Manuel, executive director of Iowa Campus Compact. “As the only higher education association dedicated to campus-based civic engagement, our member campuses are improving community life, while also educating its students for civic and social responsibility through service-learning, community service and civic engagement initiatives.”
In partnership with Volunteer Iowa, 92 college students are enrolled in the Iowa Campus Compact AmeriCorps program serving 300 or 450 hours of service across Iowa helping meet local community needs. In addition, each participant recruits 10 additional volunteers throughout their term of service.
Iowa Campus Compact has 10 Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) Summer Associates serving across the state to increase service-learning, develop days of service projects, conduct community asset assessments, and assist with summer programming at nonprofits, as well as 23 AmeriCorps VISTA members working to increase service-learning, mobilize volunteers and strengthen communities through partnerships and generating resources. The Iowa Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA project is in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service.
National Campus Compact is a coalition of more than 1,100 colleges and universities committed to fostering in students the values and skills of civic engagement. In the past five years, member schools have reported a 60 percent increase in service participation. Students working in areas such as literacy, health care, homelessness, voting and the environment contribute more than $5 billion in service to their communities each year. Iowa Campus Compact started in 2003 and now includes 21 member institutions.
Iowa Campus Compact member colleges are AIB College of Business, Allen College, Buena Vista University, Central College, Clarke College, Coe College, Cornell College, Dordt College, Drake University, Grand View University, Iowa Wesleyan College, Iowa Western Community College, Loras College, Mercy College of Health, Morningside College, Northwestern College, Simpson College, St. Ambrose University, University of Iowa, Upper Iowa University and Wartburg College.
Iowa Campus Compact’s executive committee includes John Byrd, president of Simpson College; Darrel Colson, president of Wartburg College; Dan Kinney, president of Iowa Western Community College; Sally Mason, president of the University of Iowa; Fred Moore, president of Buena Vista University; and Carl Zylstra, president of Dordt College.
For more information on Iowa’s Campus Compact, go to www.iacampuscompact.org. For more information on Volunteering in America visit www.volunteeringinamerica.gov.
June 15, 2010
PELLA — According to a report released by Volunteering in America, Iowa college students rank second in the nation in volunteering within the college student demographic up from 32nd in 2006, with 41 percent of college students volunteering their time in 2009.
As a state, Iowa has the second-highest volunteer rate in the country with 38.7 percent of its residents volunteering their time in 2009, surpassing its fifth-place ranking from the year before. Utah ranks first in the country as a state and first in the college student demographic.
“We are extremely pleased with the results of this year’s ranking,” said Rachel Manuel, executive director of Iowa Campus Compact. “As the only higher education association dedicated to campus-based civic engagement, our member campuses are improving community life, while also educating its students for civic and social responsibility through service-learning, community service and civic engagement initiatives.”
In partnership with Volunteer Iowa, 92 college students are enrolled in the Iowa Campus Compact AmeriCorps program serving 300 or 450 hours of service across Iowa helping meet local community needs. In addition, each participant recruits 10 additional volunteers throughout their term of service.
Iowa Campus Compact has 10 Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) Summer Associates serving across the state to increase service-learning, develop days of service projects, conduct community asset assessments, and assist with summer programming at nonprofits, as well as 23 AmeriCorps VISTA members working to increase service-learning, mobilize volunteers and strengthen communities through partnerships and generating resources. The Iowa Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA project is in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service.
National Campus Compact is a coalition of more than 1,100 colleges and universities committed to fostering in students the values and skills of civic engagement. In the past five years, member schools have reported a 60 percent increase in service participation. Students working in areas such as literacy, health care, homelessness, voting and the environment contribute more than $5 billion in service to their communities each year. Iowa Campus Compact started in 2003 and now includes 21 member institutions.
Iowa Campus Compact member colleges are AIB College of Business, Allen College, Buena Vista University, Central College, Clarke College, Coe College, Cornell College, Dordt College, Drake University, Grand View University, Iowa Wesleyan College, Iowa Western Community College, Loras College, Mercy College of Health, Morningside College, Northwestern College, Simpson College, St. Ambrose University, University of Iowa, Upper Iowa University and Wartburg College.
Iowa Campus Compact’s executive committee includes John Byrd, president of Simpson College; Darrel Colson, president of Wartburg College; Dan Kinney, president of Iowa Western Community College; Sally Mason, president of the University of Iowa; Fred Moore, president of Buena Vista University; and Carl Zylstra, president of Dordt College.
For more information on Iowa’s Campus Compact, go to www.iacampuscompact.org. For more information on Volunteering in America visit www.volunteeringinamerica.gov.