Names of Applicants: Dr. Danielle M. Currier, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology, Abigail Smith '15. Sociology Major Title: Exploring the factors that encourage and/or motivate students at...

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Extracted text: Names of Applicants: Dr. Danielle M. Currier, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology, Abigail Smith '15. Sociology Major Title: Exploring the factors that encourage and/or motivate students at Randolph College to participate in volunteerism. Abstract This research project will explore the factors that encourage and/or motivate students at Randolph College to volunteer. A review of academic literature on the topic of volunteerism shows that there has been a decline in the amount of research being done about volunteering since the 1990s. In addition, there is a lack of literature about volunteering among college students, particularly among those at small private liberal arts colleges. Given this gap in the research, disseminated results of this study will contribute to the wider academic community. In addition, this research will be useful to the Randolph Colleges Office of Leadership and Engagement which is in the process of examining the current level of community service among RC students as they begin to strategize about how the College can promote and support more volunteerism among RC students in the future. This research will include both qualitative and quantitative methods; I will conduct repeated and detailed observations and interviews in March, April and May of 2014. I will also administer a survey to all RC students in April 2014. Using two methods will allow me to get a full and in-depth understanding of what RC students are doing (or not doing) in terms of volunteerism as well as answer the questions "what do they think and feel about volunteering?", "why are they doing it or not doing it?", and "how can we increase the amount of volunteerism among Randolph students?" This data will be helpful in recommending approaches the various offices in the Dean of Students Office can take to effectively get RC students to volunteer.