Employee volunteers use community service leave hours to help address community-identified needs.
Up to 16 hours of paid community service leave each calendar year are available to 12-month faculty and classified staff. Paid community service leave may be used when meeting with school officials, such as a child's parent-teacher meeting, performing approved public sector volunteer work or participating in volunteer community service organizations. Learn more about Virginia School Assistance and Volunteer Service Leave, DHRM 4.40, online.
VCU Enhanced Community Service leave is available to university and academic professionals. Enhanced Community Service Leave is 16 hours of paid leave and may be used to volunteer with sponsored organizations or programs through VCU or VCU Health. Qualifying service opportunities are available online. Enhanced Community Service Leave is in addition to the regular paid community service leave, providing university and academic professionals a total of 32 hours paid community service leave.
For questions about paid community service leave, contact your human resources professional.
For questions about qualifying Enhanced Community Service Leave opportunities or other community service opportunities, contact Tito Luna at taluna@vcu.edu.
There are hundreds of service opportunities in and around Richmond. Find the right opportunity for you.
The VCU Health Hub at 25th is sponsoring a hygiene supply drive in partnership with the Richmond Public Library to benefit those experiencing financial hardship and housing insecurity. The drive goes through Nov. 30, with collection boxes at James Branch Cabell Library, Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center and VCU Police. Travel sizes of the following items are requested: shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, combs and feminine hygiene products.
Hygiene Supply Drive: Oct. 28-Nov. 30, 2020/James Branch Cable Library, 901 Park Ave.; Tompkins-McCaw Library, 509. N. 12th St.; Institute for Contemporary Art, 601 W. Broad St.; VCU Police, 224 E. Broad St. [View Image]
The rapid spread of COVID-19 has profoundly impacted the communities where we live and serve. Now, perhaps more than ever, VCU community partners and Richmond region nonprofits, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations need help to serve those most affected by COVID and other crises. Use your paid community service leave to volunteer with a local organization when support is most needed and stay safe while volunteering. Review the Virginia Office on Volunteerism and Community Service guidelines for health and safety before volunteering.
Areas of current and immediate need:
HJWA clean-up June 2020 [View Image]
“We got the idea for a community clean-up because we thought actions speak louder than words, and with everything that's been occurring throughout our community, this was one way to show support.” - Will Burns, ’21
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For additional questions about organizations or finding volunteer opportunities, email engage@vcu.edu. For questions about your leave benefits, please contact VCU Leave Administration at leave@vcu.edu or 828-1712.
Employees may use CSL and E-CSL during regularly scheduled work hours. Service leave cannot be used on paid holidays and during hours when employees are not required to work.
Service leave hours not taken in a leave year (January 10 – January 9) cannot be carried forward to the next year. There is no payment for unused community service leave upon separation from employment.
No. E-CSL is a benefit for University and Academic Professionals, developed as part of VCU’s Great Place HR Redesign.
Community service leave opportunities may be found on this page and via our monthly newsletter. Subscribe online. Another great resource is HandsOn Greater Richmond.
If you have E-CSL, employees may volunteer with approved community partners.
Yes. To request that a new community partner be added to the pre-approved list, employees should submit an E-CSL Partner Inclusion Request form at least 7 days in advance of the volunteer opportunity. Employees will receive a decision from the Center for Community Engagement and Impact via email.
Service leave is taken using the honor system. While VCU Human Resources does not require proof, your supervisor may request proof of service at his/her/their discretion. Here is a sample form you can use: Volunteer Service Verification Form
Student volunteerism falls under the Office of Student Leadership & Civic Engagement.
Use the hashtag #VCUServes to let us know how you volunteer in the community or email us at engage@vcu.edu. Submissions will be considered for featuring on the Center for Community Engagement and Impact website, social media and the employee service newsletter, 32 with VCU.