University Receives High Rank for Service

Boston College recently took a top 10 position in the Peace Corps 2010 volunteer rankings.

Ranking seventh among medium-sized schools producing Peace Corps volunteers, BC currently has 36 alumni serving in the corps. Since the establishment of the Peace Corps in 1961 by the Kennedy administration, 692 BC alumni have volunteered with the organization.

"The culture of service that is so pervasive among Boston College students and alumni manifests itself in many ways, including participation in the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, among many worthy entities," said University Spokesman Jack Dunn in an e-mail.

As the Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, there are currently almost 7,700 volunteers serving in 76 host countries worldwide, with volunteers providing local support in areas such as education, health care, business development, environmental services, and agricultural services.

The Peace Corps received over 15,000 applications in 2009, representing an 18 percent increase over the previous year, according to a recent release by the University. The increase is in line with national trends that show more and more unemployed individuals flocking to volunteer and non-profit organizations, particularly in Massachusetts, where the unemployment rate is at its highest in 33 years.

"We are proud that our students choose to use their education to try to make a difference in their world and in the lives of people in need," Dunn said. "It is a testament to the formational impact of their Jesuit education and to their own generosity as individuals."
In 2009, the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy area ranked as the sixth highest Peace Corps volunteer-producing metropolitan area in the nation, according to the release.
BC was joined by George Washington University, American University, Cornell University, Miami University, and the College of William and Mary in the ranking. Historically, nearly 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps in 139 host countries.

"For nearly 50 years, enthusiastic college alumni have contributed to the success of Peace Corps programs and our mission to promote world peace and friendship in host communities around the world," Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams said in a statement.

Over 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States are currently represented within the corps.

Last year, the majority of volunteers served in Africa and Latin America, with 37 percent and 24 percent respectively, according to the Peace Corps Web site. The typical length of service for volunteers includes three months of in-country training, followed by a minimum of two years of service.

When the organization first originated, the goals of the Peace Corps were to meet the need for trained volunteers abroad, to promote a better understanding of other cultures for Americans, and to promote a better understanding of Americans for those of other cultures and nationalities.