Did you know that 72% of college admissions officers acknowledge that community service is important in the college admissions process, according to the 2012 Community Service and College Admissions survey? Perhaps that explains why nearly one in three college students- over 3.3 million in 2011- are involved in some form of community service during their collegiate career, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Here at the University of Arkansas, students have access to the Volunteer Action Center (VAC), a center dedicated to connecting students with area volunteer agencies that have a need for student volunteers. Angela Oxford, Director of the Volunteer Action Center, said that her team helped nearly 6,500 students at the U of A last year find a community service opportunity through their office. Students working through the VAC contributed nearly 23,000 hours of service, resulting in an estimated economic impact of $501,000. Their website, volunteer.uark.edu, is currently utilized by over 200 volunteer agencies and organizations around the Northwest Arkansas area.
What does this mean for our Arkansas Alumni Association chapters, societies and boards? Quite simply, it means that our Alumni Groups across the country- chapters, societies and boards alike- have a road map to young alumni engagement clearly laid out before them. Common sense dictates that these community service-focused students will be alumni soon. That places the onus squarely on the Alumni Association to rise up and meet these young alumni with similar opportunities for involvement. Community service represents a golden opportunity for our alumni groups to make connections with recent graduates at the local level. Service projects can be large or small-scale; they are simple to plan, inexpensive to implement, provide for flexible schedules, and are most often family-friendly.
What if your group isn’t able to plan a service project? Encourage your local alumni group to support Hogs Care Week from February 25– March 2. Hogs Care Week, a project conceived by the Arkansas Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Board, is a way for individuals to show their support for the University of Arkansas through random acts of kindness and service in their local community. The project heavily emphasizes the use of social media – primarily Facebook, Twitter and Instagram- to “tell the story” of how Hogs Care all across the globe. The Arkansas Alumni Association and the Young Alumni Board are proud to present this program in conjunction with the University of Arkansas’ Division of Student Affairs and Razorback Athletics. You can find out more about Hogs Care Week and how you and your group can participate by visiting www.HogsCare.com.
Community service is a new concept to many of our alumni groups, so it’s important to remember to take small steps initially. Consider planning a Helping Like a Hog alumni service project in your area or, at the very least, encourage your fellow Razorbacks to commit random acts of kindness and “share the care” in conjunction with Hogs Care Week. Community service and outreach is an essential piece of the “young alumni engagement puzzle.” We each play a role- however small- in fostering a culture of alumni service and outreach in our local area. As you begin to reach out and serve your community with fellow alumni and friends, be sure to look around. You just might notice a few new Razorbacks working alongside you!
