Introduction: Research Goals and Methodology

In the winter of 2011, Jennifer Nahas, in her role as an evaluation consultant, was hired by OCF's Board of Directors to facilitate a strategic planning process that would chart OCF's course for the next five years [1 ] based on the needs and perceptions of OCF students, past and present. Through an online, confidential survey, 398 OCF students and graduates [2] shared their experiences and answered questions focused on student perceptions of OCF's goals and activities; experiences and satisfaction in their local OCF college chapters and national activities; and the impact these activities and relationships may have had on their lives. Additionally, 39% of the respondents had graduated from college, providing data on how graduates connect to the Church after college.

OCF Students: Findings and Analysis

OCF Students, Chapters and the North American Office

The data points to a good cross-section of OCF respondents; only slightly more females (58%) completed the survey than did males, and respondents represented all nine OCF regions, with the majority from the Great Lakes, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.

OCF serves the Church's most active high school students, with respondents (75%) reporting that prior to coming to college, they were 'very involved' in the Orthodox Church through weekly church service attendance, involvement in Sunday School, serving during the liturgy, and participating in teen youth ministries. Students reported that once in college, they continued to be active by: participating in their local chapter (80%), being 'instrumental in running their chapter' (50%), 'attending most OCF activities' (30%), being active in OCF National programs such as College Conference and Real Break, and in other Orthodox ministries such as OCMC, IOCC, CrossRoad, and Project Mexico.

As noted in the table below, students viewed their local chapters, generally, in one of two ways- very established (with regularly scheduled meetings, a connection to a local parish and a priest, elected officers, etc.) and still emerging. 

Although there is evidence that OCF's outreach strategy is reaching the chapters with close to 60% of the respondents reporting that they knew there were students and clergy representatives available to assist them, only 27% of the respondents had regular communication with the North American Office.  However, students are still meeting locally for services and confession: most respondents (88%), said that there was a local priest providing spiritual guidance in their chapter specifically by conducting Bible studies, seminars and liturgical services.  And 84% note a connection to a local Orthodox parish.

When balancing between religious, social, service and cultural activities, on average, more than half of a chapter's time is spent on religious activities. 

Satisfaction, Goals and Impact

According to the survey, overall students are 'somewhat' satisfied with their OCF experiences; only a small percentage of respondents, 10%, were not satisfied with their OCF experiences. Over 65%, either said that OCF had a 'profound impact' or 'an impact' on their life's direction whether through deepening faith, developing leadership skills, or creating a peer group to support students through college.

To get an idea about what OCF should be focusing on, the survey asked students several questions about the goals and impact of OCF ranging in scope from 'connect college students to Christ' to 'help students make healthy choices'.  Interestingly, the even distribution of the data points reveals that students see all the goals of OCF as very important.

OCF Alumni: Findings and Analysis

Parish Life after College

OCF's success is directly related to whether OCF students connect to a parish life after college. Of the alums, ninety-four percent (94%) of these OCF respondents described themselves as very active and somewhat involved in their parishes.  Additionally, close to 100% of the graduates attend liturgy regularly and over 70% receive confession, make regular financial contributions/offerings and volunteer in church ministries. OCFers are not only making their way from college to parishes, but they are also contributing in tangible ways.    

In addition to understanding post-college parish life, the OCF Board was interested in how graduates experienced their calling by Christ, With 82% of the graduates working, mostly in full-time jobs, 75% defined their career/job as related to their vocation/life as an Orthodox Christian.

Closing Thoughts

OCF is connecting college students to the Church.  As noted in this report, students tell us that OCF has impacted their lives.  And they graduate college to become active in their parishes. While the statistics are encouraging, it is from the open responses that we really learn how OCF has been critical for Orthodox students in college-gratitude and a deep love for OCF are expressed by many.            

Although not frequently noted, OCF often provides students with their first opportunity to develop relationships with other Orthodox students from other jurisdictions.

The North American OCF Board would like to thank all those students who participated in this study, as well as the Office of Vocation & Ministry for funding this research.  The findings from this study have served as the backbone of OCF's strategic planning process. OCF will use the findings from this report to better achieve its goals.

 1. Subsequently, Jennifer Nahas was asked to serve as the organization's Executive Director.

 2.  It is important to note that survey participants are most likely OCF's engaged students.  Likewise, they are participants that were most easily reached through web-based contact.  As such, they are not representative of the OCF population as a whole.  The data should be viewed within this limitation.