Carolina Center for Public Service - Public Service and Engagement at Carolina

Service Hours

Service must be through or benefit a community-based nonprofit (501 (c) (3)), a government agency, or a campus community service organization.

Unrestricted (200 hours minimum)

Service that is unpaid

Service that is not required

Service that benefits individuals and groups outside of campus

Restricted

Paid service

Service that is required by a class or degree program (additional hours beyond those required are unrestricted)

Service that benefits individuals or groups within the campus community

Service benefiting a campus-based community service organization. Examples include: membership recruitment, committee meetings, day to day operations, organizational planning, or voting for officers.

• Service through a campus-based community service organization is unrestricted only if that work directly benefits the community outside of UNC's campus, such as planning and carrying out a service project.

Campus work (paid or unpaid) that can Receive PSS Credit:

NOTE: this is in addition to student service organizations If you are working with any of the following you may count your hours towards PSS:

Ackland Art Museum

American Indian Center

APPLES Service-Learning program

Carolina Center for Public Service

Carolina Women’s Center

Institute for the Environment

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

NC Botanical Garden

NC Health Careers Access Program

Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs

Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History

William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education

SCALE

UNC Hospitals

UNC Libraries – Davis, Undergraduate, Health Sciences, and Wilson

For the most part, hours with the above would be restricted since you are assisting that particular Carolina entity with its work.

The hours would be unrestricted only if the work is unpaid and directly benefits the community (nonprofit or government agency) via a community event or program, or if your work is in direct response to a request from the community.

No other campus work can be applied towards the PSS service hours requirement.

Activities That Do Not Receive PSS Credit:

Service completed prior to enrollment in PSS program

Paid work on campus, including work-study.

• Exceptions are community work-study positions such as America Reads tutors, categorized as restricted hours

Research or working in a lab for a UNC academic department

Work for campus media outlets (such as the DTH or Carolina Week). Exceptions are Carolina Passport Magazine and Insight Out

Activities that benefit religiously affiliated organizations

• You may record service completed through these groups only if the service work directly benefits the broader community (those not affiliated with a particular religious group). Work that is faith based, tied to religiosity or directly benefits the religious organization will not be approved.

Work benefiting a campus organization that is not a community service organization

Work for a for-profit organization

Travel time to and from service sites

Overnight or multi-day service - "12 hour rule"

For overnight or multi-day service experiences (e.g. Alternative Spring Break, summer camp counseling, etc.) students may record a maximum of 12 hours per day (only if the entire day was spent doing service).

Dance Marathon and Relay for Life

These are considered one-time events that count for 12 hours total. However, hours spent planning or coordinating prior to the actual event may be counted in addition to the 12.