Allowable Service Activity Policy

Service, which can be co-curricular or academically-based, MUST be completed at a non-profit or government organization AND fall under one of the Four Service Concentration Areas (outlined below).  

• Students completing internships/practicums can enroll ONLY if the internships are non-paid ,meet the Allowable Service Activity Policy, and provide value added service to the service site.
• Federal or state funded work study positions can participate ONLY if they are designated by the institution as Community Service Work Study and meet the Allowable Service Activity Policy.

The four SIS AmeriCorps service concentration areas:

1 - Strengthening Community-Based Organizational Capacity (including schools)

Service activities must strengthen the organizational capacity of a non-profit to serve its community and achieve its mission in the areas of education, health, environment, economic opportunity, veterans and social services.

Some examples of strengthening community-based organizational capacity are::

• Counseling at community clinics
• Building homes for low income community members
• Tutoring (see Tutoring form and policy)
• Serving the homeless population
• Teaching at a Title 1 school
• Coaching Special Olympics
• Providing nursing/dental services at community clinics
• K-12 or peer-to-peer mentoring of disadvantaged or at risk youth
• Stream restoration
• Feeding the hungry
• Providing public relations support for non-profit organizations
• Providing other services that strengthen and/or expand the organizational capacity of a non-profit to better serve the community and its target populations

2 - Mobilizing Volunteers

Service activities can include:

• Coordinating volunteer outreach efforts
• Staffing service-learning offices
• Organize and participate in National Days of Service or other community service events
• Coordinating volunteer fairs
• Marketing service opportunities both on and off campus
• Acting as liaison with the non-profit organization
• Classroom presentations on service learing and volunteer opportunities
• Develop and sustain community partnerships
• Providing other services that involve mobilizing volunteers for community events and/or community organizations

3 - Education/Improving academic access and success

Service activities can include:

• Providing classroom support
• Early childhood education
• K-12 service-learning support
• Student teaching at Title 1 funded or critical needs area schools
• Serving English language learners
• Mentoring disadvantaged and/or at-risk youth
• Tutoring (see Tutoring form and policy)
• Other service activities that improves the academic access and success for disadvantaged and/or at-risk youth

4 - Engaging Veterans

Service activities can include:

• Supporting campus veterans by tapping into the veterans' code of service and encouraging their continued value in serving their local communities
• Serving local Veterans organizations
• Providing outreach to local Veterans and their families
• Other service opportunities that engage Veterans in serving their community or benefits Veterans in general