Servant Leadership
Give back to Chattanooga.
Community Service Definition and Guidelines:
Community Service is the "hands-on" time spent engaging in action to meet the needs of others to improve, support, and enhance the UTC or surrounding communities as a whole, thus fostering social change.
Community Service Guidelines:
- Benefiting organizations must be recognized as a non-profit or cause-based. The service provided cannot financially benefit an on-campus student organization, campus athletic team, or an associated student leader with the entity.
- Self-directed projects without the oversight of a supporting community organization, such as trash pick-up or recycling; helping an elderly neighbor with yard-work; baby-sitting/pet-setting or tutoring for a private individual or entity; do not qualify as community service hours.
- Community Service hours associated with an academic course, academic requirements, conduct sanctions, or criminal proceedings would not normally count as service hours.
- Any events or meetings related to planning or executing a community service initiative do not qualify as community service hours.
- Community Service hours cannot be compensated.
- Only the hours spent directly engaging in service during volunteer trips qualify as community service hours, but not any time associated with travel to/from the site, breaks, socializing, or overnight accommodations.
- Helping with set-up/tear-down for an event would be considered community service, but assisting with sign-in/participation management prior to an event would not be considered community service.
- Religious education (i.e. teaching or tutoring) or volunteering at a place of worship count as community service hours, but not events (i.e. tabling) that involve direct religious persuasion and/or fundraising.
- Bi-partisan political activities, such as working a voter registration drive on or off campus, can be considered community service hours.
- Volunteering for specific on-campus events or programs, such as Operation Move-In and at Scrappy’s Cupboard, may be considered community service.
Service Agencies, Campus Organizations, and Events (Updated 7/17/23)
The below link contains a list of opportunities where volunteers are frequently needed. These organizations and agencies rely on the continuous involvement of community members. Students are reminded that they are always representing UTC while volunteering, regardless of the location. Students are encouraged to learn about/touch base with the site before volunteering to be aware of the expectations (i.e. completing an application, dress code, etc.) and to determine if it is an appropriate fit.
Upcoming Opportunities
Check back soon!