2005 student survey shows political, social awareness.

In the wake of national tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina and the continuing war in Iraq, college students are facing unique natural and political disasters for the first time in their lives. With these challenges comes a growing sense of responsibility, a desire to serve the community and an internal need to understand the troubling events.

UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute surveyed 263,710 first-year students at 385 four-year colleges and universities in the fall of 2005. Statistical adjustments enabled the research to represent the total of about 1.3 million.

The statement, "It is essential or very important to help others who are in difficulty" won agreement by 66.3% of students, the highest percentage in 25 years and an increase of 3.9% from last year. Study director John H. Pryor speculated that the rise in students' interest in social outreach might result from the devastation by Hurricane Katrina.

Students who said there was a "very good chance they would volunteer while attending college" increased from 24.1% in 2004 to 26.3% in 2005, the largest percentage ever. Those who agreed that it was "essential or very important for them to participate in community service" rose to 25.5%, the most since 1996.

But Carol Geary Schneider, president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, voiced concern that "there's a gap between the mission we espouse and student's actions," because many students still don't consider community service part of their college experience.

Rise in political awareness

Amid the Iraq war, students reported the highest level of political awareness in a decade. More than a third felt that it was "important" or "essential" to be informed on political issues. While 45% of freshmen supported increased military spending in 2001, this year two-thirds of students believed military spending should not be increased.