Student Volunteers in a College Town: Burden or Lifeblood for the Voluntary Sector?

Abstract

Student volunteers provide a valuable source of unpaid labor to nonprofit organizations, particularly organizations in college towns where students make up a significant portion of the population. Indeed, students may be the lifeblood for these organizations. However, students may also be a burden if organizations do not have the volunteer administration capacity to support volunteers, if students are unprepared for volunteer assignments, or if the availability of students does not match the organization’s need. The purpose of this exploratory case study is to identify whether students were a burden to or the lifeblood of the voluntary sector in a college town. We surveyed 55 nonprofit leaders to identify their volunteer management capacity, experience of student volunteers (emphasizing the match between supply and demand), and their ideas for improvement. We found student volunteers comprise a significant percentage of their overall volunteer population and brought valuable skills and enthusiasm. However, we also found a mismatch between the demand for student volunteers and the supply of student volunteers, particularly as it relates to availability. We identified a number of recommendations to improve the overall service-learning experience. These findings are of interest to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions in college towns.