Lindenwood University embraces community service as an extension of service-learning and believes this service is a philosophy of experiential learning in which students participate not only to meet the needs of the community, but also to develop critical thinking skills, commitment to values, and skills for effective citizenship.

Beginning in 2010, students who acquire 500 hours of qualified community service will receive a designation on their permanent academic transcript to recognize their achievement. In addition, qualified students will receive special recognition in commencement publications and receive a service cord that can be worn during the commencement ceremony.

To satisfy this requirement, community service projects must meet the following criteria:

1. No pay or other compensation may be received for service.
   
   
2. No family members may be the recipients or supervision of service.
   
   
3. No designation will be given for work with a profit-making organization.
   
   
4. No credit will be given for co-curricular activities (i.e., grading papers, participating in school performance activities that are related to or required by another class, managing sports teams, etc.). In other words, a public service organization must be the primary beneficiary of community service projects/time.
   
   
5. No credit given for hours required to satisfy Work and Learn requirements (including Learn and Serve).
   
   
6. No credit for service will be given for court-required or other punitive service.
   
   
7. Service must take place during the time that the student was enrolled at Lindenwood University.
   
   

Directions: Student participants must set up an account through www.orgsync.com for consideration. Once an account is set up, proceed to Academics and then Community Service Transcript Designation Program. Once the membership is confirmed, the system will send me a verification email to a sponsoring faculty member responsible for hour designation.

Once accepted, return to the site and proceed to Tools and then Timesheet to upload hours and agency contact information. The chosen agency contact will receive an email from the LU to verify your placement. Hours can be uploaded on a routine basis during the student’s career at Lindenwood University. There is also a tutorial section on OrgSync for trouble shooting.

Graduating seniors must have achieved 500 documented, approved hours by March 1 of each year in order to allow time for verification and inclusion in commencement publications (July 1 for August graduation; November 1 for December graduation). All placements will be reviewed for verification. Students will be contacted for any clarification or other notification. Questions can be directed to Dr. Julie Turner, jturner@lindenwood.edu or 636-949-4652.

Lindenwood University residential students may participate in the Community Work Service Segment of the Work & Learn Program during their junior and senior year. This assignment will replace one semester of Work & Learn on campus. The student will work an average of 10 hours per week for 15 weeks, or a total of 150 hours, in the participating community service organization or school district. The student’s University account will be credited as though they are working on campus. In order to participate, students must complete 55 hours of credit and be of junior or senior standing. (Others may be considered under special circumstances.) Students must be eligible to participate in the regular Work & Learn Program and have completed satisfactory work in previous Work & Learn Assignments and also be in satisfactory academic standing.

The purpose of the Community Work Service/American Reads Program is as follows:

• To expose students to volunteer agencies and social programs in the local community.
  
  
• To enable students to be involved in hands-on experience outside their normal disciplines.
  
  
• To provide diverse opportunities that will enhance the student’s educational background and broaden their range of marketable talents.
  
  

For more information about getting involved with Community Work Service, stop by Career Services or call 636-949-4806.

All groups planning a community service event or planning to participate in a community service project must notify the Lindenwood University Community Service Clearinghouse currently supported by the Student and Academic Support Services (SASS) department. This is not an approval process, but a process by which all community service activity through Lindenwood University may be streamlined and funneled through a community service calendar. This process will organize current projects, avoiding duplication in effort, and will allow groups to publicize events while attracting more participants. Groups have the option through this process to mark whether the event is closed to a specific group or if the event is open to the LU student community. Events will be marked on the calendar as opened or closed.

The LU Community Service Clearinghouse process requires completion of the Event Information Sheet (PDF). The form is brief and can be sent electronically. Submission of this form will allow the event to be posted on the Community Service Calendar. The form should be completed for all group community service events, open or closed.

We encourage all Lindenwood students to take an active approach to learning and serving the community. If you are interested in learning about additional community service events, please complete the Volunteer Information Sheet (PDF) to be informed about events through your Lionmail account or simply access the Community Service Calendar.