Two-dozen students from the University of Virginia in January 2006 took part in a program that brings college students from around the US to help rebuild New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The program was part of an interdisciplinary two-week course that examined the impact of the hurricane through such diverse topics as…

Seventeen student volunteers form the Franklin Pierce College Fire Department. When the firefighters are on duty, they must carry electronic pagers at all times. They also participate in dormitory inspections and attend weekend sessions at a local firefighters' training school. (MLW)

A 2005 national survey of incoming freshmen in the US reveals that two out of three college freshmen believe it is essential or very important to help others who are in difficulty, with 83 percent stating they volunteered at least occasionally during their senior year of high school. The survey also finds an increased level of political…

As campus student volunteer activities have grown, colleges have acknowledged the need for better organization by hiring recent graduates to coordinate them. The young deans have proven to be both enthusiastic and effective at this task. (MSE)

The Mardi Gras Coalition, a project of Tulane University's community-service organization, trains student volunteers to provide emergency medical and other services at New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebration. The students get desired practical medical experience and also help the community. (MSE)

A number of colleges are making a formal commitment to community service by encouraging their students to sign up for local volunteer projects, some programs are even compulsory. Critics of the new programs say that requiring community service violates the spirit of the community service ethic. (MLW)