Service by Students at Lebanon Valley College Valued at More Than a Half Million Dollars

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Students participated in a Habitat for Humanity project in North Carolina during spring break.

ANNVILLE, PA (06/24/2015)(readMedia)-- Lebanon Valley College students reported 23,114 hours of service during the 2014–2015 academic year, equaling $533,240 worth of service for the Lebanon County community and beyond.

Community service hours that qualify for reporting at LVC represent time dedicated to the interests of others for which an individual does not receive financial compensation. The hours must be served during the academic year for work that directly benefits either (1) people experiencing poverty, discrimination, abuse, poor health, old age, and/or physical-mental limitations or (2) the protection of animals or the environment. Strict guidelines regulate the reporting of hours.

The Rev. Dr. Paul Fullmer, LVC's chaplain and director of community service and volunteerism, compiles the community service figures each year. Students track individual and group hours served via an online system. Shortly after electronic submission, qualified service hours are posted to individual accounts available to students online. Fullmer gathers community service information on monthly reports from all student organization presidents and athletic coaches, asking that they report the times, dates, hours, number of participants, and other details related to their community service.

Select LVC Students Excel in Community Service

The College also has developed a prestigious award system as an incentive for students to serve the community. Service awards are posted to the student's JobCenter Profile where prospective employees can note the involvement. During the 2014–2015 academic year, 24 students earned sufficient community service hours to qualify for Gold Community Service Awards, having served more than 100 hours and completed a multi-day residential-service project. Students who serve 61–99 hours of service receive a Silver Community Service Award and those who serve 25–60 hours receive a Bronze Community Service Award.

At the close of the academic year, 11 students and two LVC staff members joined Dr. Ivette Guzman-Zavala, associate professor of Spanish, on a service trip to her hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico. There, participants assisted at a residential facility for seniors and a shelter for victims of domestic violence during the one week, high-impact experience. The afternoons were spent tutoring children in two elementary schools, and evenings were devoted to learning about the island from invited guest speakers.

Twenty students worked with Habitat for Humanity during spring break on a trip to Wake County, North Carolina. The group assisted in the construction of a home and painted the interior of another home, which will be purchased through an interest-free mortgage offered by Habitat for Humanity.

Local Residents Benefit

Students completed more than 1,300 hours of service volunteering at LVC's Physical Therapy Free Clinic. Working under the supervision of a member of LVC's faculty, these students provide physical therapy services free-of-charge at a fully equipped clinic located at 35 W. Main Street in Annville.

Students serving through a satellite of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program-housed in the Mund College Center at LVC-recorded nearly 350 hours of service. The program, also supervised by a member of LVC's faculty, helped local taxpayers complete their forms to maximize their refunds.

Service to the local community is highlighted through four extensive programs during the academic year. During orientation, 15 student-led service organizations are part of LVC's Orientation Service Project. Transportation to pre-arranged service opportunities in the local community is provided on Earth Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the United Way Day of Caring. A total of 1,320 hours of service were reported for these local events.

Valuing Community Service

According to the Independent Sector, a coalition of leading nonprofits, corporations, and foundations, volunteer time was valued at $23.07 per hour during 2014. By multiplying the College's 23,114 hours of service by that hourly rate, we can determine the dollar value of the students' volunteer time. This figure is based on the average hourly earnings of all production and non-supervisory workers on private non-farm payrolls (as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The Independent Sector increases this figure by 12 percent to include the estimate value of fringe benefits.

For more information about community service at Lebanon Valley College, contact the Office of Community Service at 717-867-6135.

About Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College is a private, coeducational college founded in 1866 and dedicated to the liberal arts. The College offers 36 undergraduate majors plus self-designed majors and a range of minors, concentrations, and pre-professional options, as well as graduate degree programs in athletic training, business administration, music education, physical therapy, and science education.

The College has 1,573 full-time undergraduate students and 106 full-time faculty. Students can choose from more than 90 clubs and organizations, and 12 study abroad programs. LVC awards generous academic scholarships to those whose high school records demonstrate a commitment to challenge and achievement.