Santa Clara tops other colleges in volunteer efforts

By Jack Gillum

Santa Clara students perform more community service and volunteer work than other colleges, according to a recent nationwide survey.

According to data published in the National Survey of Student Engagement, Santa Clara seniors reported that 72 percent have done some sort of volunteer work during their undergraduate career. Only about 62 percent of seniors in the study's participating colleges said the same is true.

It's perhaps no surprise that volunteer work does not get placed on the back burner on campus. Santa Clara's mission of social justice work can attribute to a higher rate of students' community involvement, according to Jeanne Rosenberger, dean for the Office of Student Life.

"A lot of universities offer an outstanding education," she said. "One of the ways that Santa Clara is distinctive is in its integration of experiences that students have learning in their subjects with the world."

When high school seniors begin applying for college, Jesuit social justice values can be distinguishing characteristics that attract volunteer-conscious students, said Rosenberger. She also noted that since many students come from high schools with community service requirements, a similar high amount of freshmen have not only participated in volunteerism, but may wish to continue that work when they arrive at Santa Clara.

Other four-year schools report similar findings in their in-coming freshmen. In the College Student Survey administered at the beginning of students' freshman year, 91 percent of Santa Clara respondents noted that they had performed some sort of volunteer work in the past, other college students reporting 87 percent nationally.

Administrators note that an ostensible presence of on-campus social service organizations, such as the Santa Clara Community Action program (SCCAP), could account for a good attraction to student volunteerism. Rosenberger noted that SCCAP provides a structure with a wide array of volunteer opportunities, offering local and worldwide projects - even providing transportation.

SCCAP, which began in the 1960s with roots in volunteering and political activism, has grown immensely in the past few years, with two dozen separate programs and several immersion trip programs, according to Blair Thedinger, the organization's director.

"It is so easy for students to get involved," Thedinger said, noting that his organization receives help from hundreds of students.

While students may volunteer for a number of reasons, the simple interaction with people in the community drives some volunteers' work efforts. Nadine Garza, a SCCAP program coordinator, noted that the exchange of different perspectives between herself and those she helps in her program is one of her favorite aspects.

"They offer us their insight, and we in turn can offer what we know and experience," said Garza, who heads an alternative education program for high school students. "Some of us have been in their shoes, which helps to relate to the students and share with them how we have overcome the disadvantages."

Sophomore Jon Heit believes that volunteering and community work has always been a part of his life. Heit spends his time at Downtown College Prep (DCP) tutoring students in academics and exchanging experiences. "DCP is a simple and direct way of doing social justice in the community," said Heit, who noted that volunteer work in high school was a "stepping stone" to the community involvement he has at Santa Clara.

Community work comes in two different flavors, according to Thomas Plante, the acting director of Santa Clara's Arrupe Center. He delineates between the roles of volunteering and community-based learning offered by the center, but sees similarities in and support for both kinds of work. "Santa Clara takes [volunteer work] very seriously, and it's really encouraged and supported," Plante said.

Plante believes that the Arrupe Center offers a dualistic approach to community service-students not only give to the community, but in turn receive educational enrichment, in conjunction with Santa Clara classes and reflections. "At Arrupe, you're learning how to make the world a better place, but you are also learning about psychology or perhaps learning Spanish," Plante said.

The multitude of Santa Clara volunteering venues helps more than the community, according to Rosenberger.

"Students leave the school with more than just a diploma," said Rosenberger. "You're not here as a consumer only. You don't just come and get an education, because we know you can get that at a lot of other schools. The question is: what are you going to do with what you've learned in the community?"