1. Universities that Lead in Volunteering for Good Causes
While many students attend college strictly to obtain their degrees, others commit a
great deal of their spare time to helping out good causes. Some schools have
stronger volunteering traditions than others. Below, you will find a list of the nine
American colleges that have the strongest traditions for giving back to their local
communities.
University of California at San Diego
With approximately 28,000 students, the University of California at San Diego is
bursting at its seams with potential volunteers. Happily enough, plenty of them get
into the spirit of things. In fact, the university received some very important
recognition in April 2011, when the Clinton Global Initiative university meetings
were held on its campus. Former president Bill Clinton chose the school for its
strong tradition of volunteerism, which extends beyond many students' academic
careers. For example, a considerable number of alumni go on to serve in the Peace
Corps. There are also more than 560 student organizations, and many of them
regularly engage in volunteer activities.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
There's no question that students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
like to give back to their local community. For one thing, the school ranks fourth in
terms of students who go on to participate in the Teach for America program,
which places talented teachers in inner-city schools. The school's women's
basketball team is regularly highlighted for its volunteer activities. In the past, the
team has visited patients at the North Carolina Cancer Hospital. Assisting with
local causes is a strong tradition at this university, which is attended by around
30,000 students.
Fordham University
Although the student population of Fordham University hovers around 15,000, the
school gives back to the community in a big way. It joins up with local
organizations to help provide plenty of volunteers. Local groups like the Gay
Men's Health Crisis center benefit enormously from the participation of Fordham
students. Students also volunteer as tutors for Grace Outreach, which is a GED
program for adult women. Additional causes center around at-risk youths and
elderly people who are confined to their homes.

2. University of California at Riverside
The approximately 20,000 students who attend the University of California at
Riverside contribute around 70,000 hours to causes in the local community. Those
who attend the school can take their pick from many great causes in the immediate
area. Popular examples include Unity in R Community and Heart Pillows for Heart
Patients. The university's website offers an easy-to-use portal that can be used to
locate worthwhile causes. Events like the Suicide Awareness Walk are annual
traditions for many of the school's students, who take time away from their
schedules to help out.
Wright State University
The students at Wright State University, which is located in a suburb of Dayton,
Ohio, aren't the only ones who get into the volunteering act. The staff at the school
has a long, proud tradition of giving back to the community too. The We Serve U
program is the official name of the program that is made up of Wright State
University staff members. It participates in many ongoing projects. In the past, it
has collected and donated supplies to schools in Dayton. New projects are being
developed all the time too, which helps to foster an environment of volunteerism.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Out of all of the schools on this list, SUNY College of Environmental Science and
Forestry is the tiniest. Despite having a student population of around 2,700, the
school manages to contribute about 70,000 hours to volunteerism per year. Its
students participate in a vast array of local projects. One ongoing example is the
cleanup of the Onondaga Creek in Syracuse. Many of the school's students
participate in cleanup efforts due to the fact that the school's focus is on forestry
and environmental science.
St. Louis University
St. Louis University has a knack for getting students involved in local community
efforts. An incredible 2,778 people participated in the Make a Difference Day
event, which takes place in the fall. That represents a considerable percentage of
the school's approximately 16,000 students. Students also participate in a wide
range of other successful events, such as Relay for Life. Its fraternities and
sororities have proud traditions of giving back to the local community, which helps
to bolster the spirit of volunteerism that is so prominent at the Missouri university.

3. Portland State University
As news spread about the fact that Oregon has a higher-than-average number of
hungry people, its largest university decided to do something about it. Indeed,
Portland State University, which has about 30,000 students, chose to participate in
State Employee Food Drive Month. Large barrels were placed across the campus.
Students could then donate canned goods and other non-perishable food items into
the barrels. The event turned out to be a rousing success, and it's just one example
of the many ways in which the school's students give back to the local community.
Student organizations are always on the lookout for new causes, and their
participation in those causes is a very positive thing.
UCLA
UCLA has had a proud tradition of volunteerism throughout much of its history. It
drove home that point in September 2009, with the creation of the Volunteer
Center. The center became the official headquarters of the school's involvement in
many great local causes. Through the Volunteer Center, students can sign up to
participate in Red Cross events and other projects. Beach cleanups and other
worthwhile events keep the school's approximately 40,000 students busy all year
long. At any given moment, UCLA students are busy volunteering with a wide
range of worthwhile local causes. The tradition is sure to continue and grow even
stronger too.