Service Hour Guidelines

Off-Campus Service consists of volunteer work that benefits entities, individuals, or organizations not affiliated with the University of Oklahoma. This includes community agencies, government agencies, non-profit organizations, area schools, and local civic groups.

• Examples include, but are not limited to:
  • Meals on Wheels: Delivering meals to community members.
    • Youth Mentorship: Participating in a school reading buddy program for elementary students.
    • Big Brothers Big Sisters: Serving as a volunteer mentor.
    • Senior Care: Visiting a local nursing home or assisted living facility.
    • Animal Welfare: Volunteering at an animal shelter or humane society.
    • Community Cleanup: Participating in a waterway clean sweep. 
    • Habitat for Humanity: Assisting in the building of a house or shelter for those in need.
  • Geographic Flexibility
    • Off-campus service is not limited to the Norman or Cleveland County area. Eligible volunteer hours can be completed in any city, state, or international location.
  • Exclusions
    • Service hours only account for direct volunteer time. Time spent traveling to and from a service location, as well as sleeping, eating, or leisure time during a service trip, do not qualify as service.

• Travel to and from a service location does not count as service, unless specifically part of the service. Determinations can be made by emailing leadandvolunteer@ou.edu.
• Training or orientation, if essential to the service and conducted within one month prior to the service, can be counted as service.

• Activities completed for compensation do not count as service. Compensation includes monetary (work study or pay) and gifts or favors to an individual or organization.
• Receiving incentives like a free meal, t-shirt, or place to stay is notconsidered compensation, and the associated event can count as service as long as it meets all other service guidelines. 

• Community service completed to satisfy a court order, university conduct sanction, probation, diversion program, or other disciplinary requirement qualify as service hours if the activity otherwise meets these guidelines. However, these hours do not qualify to be counted toward awards, recognition programs, or other honors. 
  • Examples include, but are not limited to:
    • Community service assigned through the University of Oklahoma student conduct process
    • Court-ordered community service
    • Community service required as part of probation or a diversion program
    • Service completed to satisfy another disciplinary or legal sanction

Philanthropy is engaging in the act of raising or donating funds, goods, or services for a cause or organization. While philanthropy is a worthy cause and one that OU encourages, students must contribute their time through volunteer service rather than solely donating funds or goods, or attending a philanthropy event, for acts to qualify as service.

• As such, money raised or donated for philanthropic causes does not qualify as service. 
• Attending or participating in a philanthropy event does not qualify as service.
  • Examples include but are not limited to:
    • Donating money to OU Dance Marathon, the Food Pantry, or other on campus philanthropies.
    • Attending philanthropy events hosted by a student organization, other group on campus group, or community partner.
    • A charity walk/run.
    • Purchasing a t-shirt or other merchandise item for a fundraiser.
  • Exceptions that do count as service hours include: 
    • Time spent planning, organizing, or preparing for a philanthropic event may count as service hours when the work directly supports the success of the charitable event and is completed on a volunteer basis. Administrative responsibilities that are part of a paid position or required leadership/officer role are not eligible unless otherwise provided under the Student Leadership section.
    • Time spent performing an essential function at a philanthropic event (i.e. checking people in at a race, crowd management, washing cars at a charity car wash, etc.).

Service completed through a registered student organization or campus program may be eligible for service hours when the primary purpose is serving the university or broader community. Eligibility is determined by the nature of the activity, not whether it fulfills a membership requirement.

• Activities that typically count as service hours include, but are not limited to:
  • Participating in a volunteer project or community service event through a student organization.
  • Completing community service hours that fulfill a student organization's membership requirement, provided students choose where or how they complete the service and the activity benefits the campus or broader community.
  • Volunteering with an on or off-campus nonprofit or community organization alongside members of a student organization.
  • Participating in campus-wide service initiatives

Activities that primarily support the operations or administration of a student organization or campus program do not count as service hours.

• Examples include, but are not limited to:
  • Tabling or recruiting for your organization.
  • Marketing or promoting your organization or its events.
  • Preparing materials such as flyers, giveaways, agendas, or meeting supplies.
  • Attending organization meetings, trainings, retreats, or social events.
  • Planning, coordinating, or administering organization events (including service events) as part of an elected or appointed leadership position.
  • Administrative or operational duties that primarily support the organization.

Students serving in leadership positions within registered student organizations or university programs may receive a one-time service hour allocation each academic year in recognition of their leadership and contributions to the university community.

• 50 hours – High-Level Leadership (e.g., President, Chair, Executive Director, Board Chair, or equivalent)
• 25 hours – Mid-Level Leadership (e.g., Vice President, Officer, Executive Board Member, Cabinet Member, or equivalent)
• 12 hours – Committee-Level Leadership (e.g., Committee Chair, Event Staff Lead, Planning Committee Member, or equivalent)

Leadership hour allocations recognize service provided through an organizational leadership role and do not replace participation in community service. Hours awarded through student organization or campus program leadership positions may not be applied toward the OU Standard Award or President's Cup.

Time spent in a leadership role for a campus program or student organization can be counted as service hours with the following limits per role: 

• 50 service hours: High Level Leadership Position (i.e. Chair, President, Board of Directors, or other Top Leader of an Executive Board, etc.) 
• 25 service hours: Mid-Level Leadership Position (i.e. Vice Chair that reports to a Chair, Cabinet Member, Organization Officer, Executive Board member, etc.)
• 12 service hours: Committee Level Leadership (i.e. Organization Event Planning Committee, Organization Event Staff, etc.) 
  • Limits per role are determined by the organization advisor and/or chair/president based on the scope of work completed.

NOTE: Hours of service from student leadership roles in an OU student organization or program will not be accepted as service hours counting towards the OU Standard Award or President's Cup.

• Unpaid internships completed at a nonprofit organization or in a service-based setting can be counted as service, if they are not a required component of a student’s coursework.
• Practicum hours completed with a nonprofit organization or in another service-based setting can be counted as service, if they are not a required component of a student’s coursework.
• Academic activities, service-learning, and internships that do not count as service include but are not limited to: 
  • Observation hours learning about a career field or profession 
  • Job shadowing without performing tasks 
  • Unpaid internships or practicums in a service-based setting that are required for a student’s coursework
• Service above and beyond the requirements for a course will count as service.

• Service conducted in an international setting on one’s own time or during a university-sponsored trip does count as service. 
• Service hours cannot be earned for volunteer work that is a required component of an education abroad course or factored into an academic grade. 

• Donating items, money, or profit shares does not count as service hours.
• Volunteering at a canned food/clothing/care item drive or collecting, sorting, and packing food/care/clothing item donations can be counted as service hours.
• Donating blood counts as one service hour. 
• Assisting with the organization, functioning, or marketing of a blood drive can be counted as service hours if it is not for compensation or tied to requirements for a leadership/officer position in a student or other organization. 

• Unpaid hours completed while working for a summer camp/program can be counted as community service.
• Time spent sleeping, eating, showering, traveling, etc. cannot be counted as service. 
• Being a chaperone or leader for a group that attends camp cannot be counted as service. 

Volunteer service completed through a faith-based organization may be eligible for service hours when the primary purpose of the activity is serving the community or meeting a community need. Eligibility is determined by the nature of the service provided, not the religious affiliation of the organization.

• Examples include but are not limited to:
  • Volunteering at a food pantry, clothing closet, or meal program
  • Participating in community outreach or neighborhood improvement projects
  • Building or repairing homes
  • Disaster relief or recovery effortsOrganizing or distributing food, school supplies, clothing, or hygiene items
  • Tutoring or mentoring community members
  • Volunteering with a nonprofit or community organization alongside members of your faith community
  • Providing childcare or other support during a community outreach event open to the public
  • Staffing community health fairs, resource fairs, or similar service events
  • Service trips (i.e. Mission Trips) 
  • Time spent sleeping, eating, showering, traveling, in religious study, participating in non-service-related activities etc. on a service trip cannot be counted as service.
• Activities that do not qualify for service hours include but are not limited to:
  • Leading a small group, Bible study, or other faith formation group
  • Acting as a greeter, usher, or other hospitality role during or surrounding a religious service
  • Conducting or assisting with worship services
  • Teaching Sunday School or providing other religious instruction
  • Participating in evangelism, proselytizing, or missionary activities whose primary purpose is faith promotion
  • Participating in worship services, prayer meetings, or religious ceremonies
  • Serving in children's or youth ministries when the primary purpose is religious education or discipleship
  • Serving in roles that primarily support the internal operations of a congregation (e.g., worship team, choir, altar service, communion preparation)

Household/neighbor assistance may count as service hours when it is completed through a nonprofit organization, registered student organization, faith-based organization, community agency, or other organized volunteer initiative that serves the broader community or individuals in need. The determining factor is whether the activity is completed as part of an organized volunteer effort, rather than as a personal favor or obligation.

• Examples of activities that qualify as service include, but are not limited to:
  • Home repair or construction projects through organizations such as Habitat for Humanity 
  • Yard work or home maintenance completed as part of an organized volunteer day 
  • Assisting with disaster cleanup or recovery efforts 
  • Moving, cleaning, or organizing for clients of a nonprofit or community agency 
  • Volunteer projects serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, or families experiencing hardship 
• Examples of activities that do not qualify as service hours include, but are not limited to:
  • Helping a friend, family member, or neighbor with routine household tasks as a personal favor 
  • Babysitting or caregiving for family or friends 
  • Routine household chores for your own household 
  • Assisting someone with moving, yard work, or home maintenance outside of an organized volunteer effort

Volunteer service related to civic engagement may be eligible for service hours when the primary purpose is to educate, serve, or strengthen the community. Activities intended to influence the outcome of an election or support a political candidate or party are not eligible for service hour credit.

• Activities that qualify as service include but are not limited to: 
  • Serving as a poll worker or election judge
  • Nonpartisan voter registration drives
  • Nonpartisan voter education initiatives
  • Advocacy for a social issue or public policy through a nonprofit or community organization
  • Community forums or educational events that present issues without endorsing candidates
  • Legislative advocacy on behalf of a nonprofit or community organization
• Activities that do not qualify as service include but are not limited to:
  • Campaigning for or against a political candidate
  • Campaigning on behalf of a political party
  • Door-to-door canvassing for a candidate or party
  • Campaign phone banking or text banking
  • Distributing campaign materials or yard signs
  • Campaign fundraising
  • Working at campaign rallies or events
  • Managing or creating campaign communications or social media content
• Volunteering for a voter registration drive can count as service
• Participating in advocacy work for a social issue can count as service 
• Serving as a poll worker can count as service
• Time spent actively promoting or campaigning for a political candidate, party, or ideal can be counted as service hours. Examples include but are not limited to: 
  • Knocking on doors 
  • Phone banking 
  • Canvassing 
• Time spent passively promoting or campaigning for a political candidate, party, or ideal does not count as service. Examples include but are not limited to: 
  • Posting about a candidate/party/ideal on social media 
  • Talking to friends or strangers about a candidate/party/ideal in passing