Why Volunteer?

As a Christian college of the liberal arts, Huntington University recognizes that quality of character is often best expressed through service to others. Huntington students understand this well and annually contribute thousands of hours of volunteer service throughout the local community and around the globe. The University's student-directed Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service mobilizes the campus community for the effort.

Student volunteer efforts take many forms. Some tutor at-risk children in local public schools. Others act as positive role models to juveniles referred by law enforcement officials. Others raise money and provide manual labor to build decent homes for needy families. The Joe Mertz Center coordinates more than a dozen such programs in all.

Volunteerism is not restricted to Joe Mertz Center activities. Service-learning is integrated throughout the Huntington curriculum. Students pursuing a degree in recreation management, for example, offer physical education instruction to home-schooled children. Special January Term courses provide opportunities for cross-cultural learning and humanitarian service around the globe. In 1996 and 1997, for example, students served in Jamaica, Haiti, Uganda, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Ecuador.

The compelling story of "Baby Hope" is proof positive of Huntington’s commitment to the integration of faith and learning. In 1996, a January Term class studying in Haiti arranged for a critically-ill orphan to receive life-saving surgery in the United States. The baby was later adopted by an Indiana family.

To measure how effectively the University teaches students to "put feet to their faith," the Joe Mertz Center assesses campus volunteerism. Since the Center's founding, volunteer efforts by students, faculty and staff have increased from 6,400 hours of service in 1992-93, to 10,500 hours in 1995-96. In that year, nearly 70% of Huntington's 745 students participated, assisting 82 different agencies, organizations and individuals. The year 2004-2005 saw 14,808.5 hours done by 529 students and 51 faculty members--with the JMC working with 62 total organizations!

"Service to Christ and His creation" is foremost among Huntington University's core values. Students are encouraged to express tangibly their Christian character and convictions. Across the curriculum, in and out of the classroom, Huntington University "equips men and women to impact our world for Christ.