Community Engagement's Impact on College Student's Personal Development
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Jaclyn Toomey
College:
College of Liberal Arts
Major:
Psychology
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Joshua Burnett
Abstract:
The purpose of this research study is to explore how community engagement impacts college student’s personal development. By exploring this topic, it allows the researcher to find how the GE-1000, Transition to Kean, required service and civic engagement events made first year students feel and if there are ways to make these events more rewarding and beneficial for the students. Being involved within the community during college years does impact students' personal development. A mixed-method approach was used by utilizing surveys. A mixed-method approach was chosen to be able to obtain quantitative data about service experiences and qualitative data on how the service and civic engagement events made students feel. One of the key findings found that most first year students would still attend GE-1000 events even if they were not mandated, suggesting that these community events have impacted them personally. Another finding found that first year students enjoyed volunteering with older adults, suggesting that they may choose to work with older adults in their future careers. The survey allowed for results to be found on how community service specifically affects Kean University first year students personal development.