Students who are looking for opportunities to volunteer in the community now have a place on campus to help.

A new office, officially called the Office for Community Service and Learning, unofficially called The Boiler Volunteer Network, opens today in the basement of Stewart Center.

Sara Solloway, who oversees the program, said a lot of colleges have this type of office available on campus. Purdue was the only Big Ten University to not have one until now.

The central purpose of the office is "to provide a volunteer clearinghouse on campus to connect Purdue University students, faculty, staff and retirees with community service and campus volunteer opportunities and to create and implement a variety of service experiences," according to a statement.

Although the official grand opening isn't until this fall, students can begin using the services today.

The services offered at the office include a community service resource library, Purdue retirees to mentor students about community involvement, volunteer opportunities for Purdue retirees and community service referrals and consultations for individuals and groups.

A new student organization called Students Assisting with Volunteer Efforts will work in collaboration with the office to organize service projects.

Solloway said plans for the office have been in the works since the fall semester.

"We're hoping this will be more easily accessible to college students," she said.

Solloway said the executive director of Lafayette's volunteer bureau suggested involving students in volunteering by setting up space on campus.

"We saw a need (for the office) and did it," Solloway said.

• The office, located in Room G4 in the basement of Stewart Center, will be open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Fridays. Hours will change for the summer.