Our History

Volunteering at The University of Texas at Austin is nothing new. Since its establishment over a century ago, this institution has promoted community service as a means of forming well-rounded, responsible individuals. Before the creation of what is now known as the Volunteer and Service Learning Center, many people, departments and student organizations within the university worked to provide volunteer opportunities to the UT student body.

In 1991, the Committee for the Enhancement of the Undergraduate Experience recommended the creation of a volunteer center that would serve to coordinate community service efforts by UT students. The new center would enhance the educational experience of students and instill 'a sense of community through service' within the UT student body. Ms. Cheryl Wood, a former Senior Student Affairs Administrator at the Office of the Dean of Students, developed the new center and provided its initial leadership.

In 1992, with the support of President William H. Cunningham (1985-1992) and Student Body President Howard Nirken (1992-1993), the Volunteer Center was created under the umbrella of the Campus Activities Office (currently, Student Activities and Leadership Development) at the Office of the Dean of Students. The center started as a clearinghouse for agencies and student volunteers. The UT Student Volunteer Board (SVB) was created in 1993 to give students the opportunity to organize and to lead service events that would benefit the community and the UT student body. Today, the SVB coordinates over 10 events and programs, recruiting over 4,500 volunteers per year from all academic disciplines.

In 1999, the Volunteer Center supported a student group's idea of creating a large-scale community service event, namely, The Project. This event has recruited over 1,500 volunteers each year, creating a greater impact in the community through the one-day service event in addition to bringing the community closer together. With the help of UT faculty, staff, and students as well as public and private agencies and businesses in the Austin area, The Project has become UT's traditional day of service.

Under the leadership of Mr. Glen Baumgart, Director from 1998-2010, the Volunteer Center strived to strengthen the connection between academics and volunteerism.  In the Spring of 2000 the Volunteer Center incorporated a service learning component into its student programs, creating UT Students Enriching Education through Service (UT SEES). This student organization formed to promote and support service learning across all disciplines at UT from 2000-2003. To reflect the growing importance of this pedagogy, the Volunteer Center became the Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC) in 2002, becoming an individual department within the Office of the Dean of Students.