Amid much information and statistics about the financial and
emotional benefits of higher education to individuals and
communities, one fact is mysteriously missing: how much value a
college brings to its service area because of the volunteer
efforts of its faculty, staff and students. Imagine how much
poorer our community would be without the expertise and
volunteerism of the college family. The efforts are widespread
and diverse, from free dental screenings to food pantry
donations to soup kitchen service to participation on a wide
variety of boards. College representatives serve in Rotary,
Exchange Club, on Chambers of Commerce committees, on boards
ranging from Communities in Schools to the Rome Symphony
Orchestra. Students enrolled in the First Year Experience,
participate in a service learning project as part of their
curriculum. Dental hygiene students are required to perform a
specific amount of community service every year. Nursing
students are required as part of their curriculum to complete 12
hour