Volunteers in college

cantonrep.com: "In its annual “The American Freshman” survey released recently, UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute reported that first-year undergraduates’ interest in performing community service and assisting the needy has surged.

The survey — based on polls last fall of 263,710 freshmen at 385 of the nation’s four-year schools — found that 66.3 percent believe it is very important or essential to help others in difficulty. That figure, up from 62.4 percent in 2004, is the highest percentage in 25 years.

In addition, 26.3 percent said there was a “very good” chance they would participate in volunteer or community service while in college, up from 24.1 percent a year earlier and the highest since researchers began asking that question in 1990. In all, 67.3 percent of freshmen said there was at least “some” chance they would do such work."