Numerous studies emphasize the impact of community service on college students by pointing out its positive correlations to establishing a sense of belonging among 1st-year students. However, despite many colleges’ best efforts, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted the normal college experience. In this study, we utilized a post-positivist worldview and employed a cross-sectional survey research study to explore how undergraduate students’ attitudes, behaviors, and intended skill development through community service changed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We found a statistically significant decrease in all community service attitudes and behaviors and no change in intended skill development during and post-COVID. Our findings have implications for service-learning faculty and higher education professionals working in community engagement functional areas.
Reed, A. & Grabsch, D. K. (2025). During and post COVID-19 community engagement expectations and attitudes among college students. Metropolitan Universities Journal, 36(3), 6-26. doi: 10.18060/28507
Dustin K. Grabsch, Ph.D. 