NEXT ORIENTATION for NEW ENROLLEES:  Spring 2013!  Send an e-mail to krista.rogers@cnu.edu. to receive details when they become available.

NEW:  By popular request, we've added an FAQ section to this page (scroll down); we'll keep it updated, so check here first!

COMING SOON: Spring workshop dates.

The Center for Community Engagement is proud to launch the CNU Engage Service Distinction Program in the 2012/13 academic year. This exciting program provides the foundation and framework for CNU students to commit themselves to lives of service to local, state, national and global communities. The Service Distinction is awarded to students who have committed themselves to serving their communities and recognizes four distinct aspects of engagement.

• Volunteer activities within the community;
• Commitment to the work and cause of community partners; 
• Civic Engagement through advocacy, policy development, program planning and implementation; and, 
• Social Entrepreneurship to address societal issues in new and innovative ways.

Program Goals

The service distinction program strengthens the culture of service and community engagement at CNU by:

• Developing relational bridges between CNU and community partners that impact the community in positive and significant ways.
• Fostering student understanding of the issues confronting society and their role in addressing these issues.
• Challenging students to engage with the community at deeper levels of commitment, civic engagement and social entrepreneurship. 
• Encouraging community engagement as a lifelong commitment. 

Who’s Eligible?

The program is available to all students who have at least four semesters remaining at CNU. Seniors who plan to graduate in May 2013, and have completed the prescribed number of hours are also eligible. Eligibility requirements for May 2013 graduates.  

Program Requirements

• Enroll in the Service Distinction Program (through mycnuserviceprofile.org)
• Attend a program orientation.  See the center's online calendar for details, and please RSVP to let us know you're coming!
• Complete one of the following:
      - 140 hours of community service, or
      - 120 hours of community service and one service learning class.
      Find out which hours count!  Log your yours at mycnuengageprofile.org as you complete them.
• Enroll in service track (at mycnuengageprofile.org). Declare service track within first 40 hours, as 100 of Service Distinction hours must be within ONE service track.
• Attend one service track workshop. Workshops to begin Spring 2013. 
• Complete a senior reflection project and workshop. Workshops to begin Fall 2013.

Benefits and Recognition

Students are acknowledge and honored for their service in the following ways:

• Service distinction graduation ceremony
• Certificate of recognition
• Listing in the University commencement program
• Students are encouraged to include their service distinction on resumes and graduate school applications; the service distinction demonstrates dedication, active citizenship, and commitment to community engagement.

To Enroll

Enroll in the Service Distinction program by created/accessing your service profile at mycnuengageprofile.org and selecting "Enroll in the Service Distinction Program."

To Log and Review Hours

Log your service hours by accessing your service profile at mycnuengageprofile.org and selecting "Log My Hours" from the drop-down menu bar.  Review your hours by selecting "Review My Hours" from the same bar.  If you have any questions or corrections with regard to past hours, please contact krista.rogers@cnu.edu.

FAQs

Question 1. How many past service hours do I have?

You can check past hours online at mycnuengageprofile.org by logging on and selecting "Review My Hours" from the drop-down menu bar.  If you have any questions or corrections with regard to past hours, please contact krista.rogers@cnu.edu.

Question 2. Do the hours I've already logged (for example, for PLP) count toward my Service Distinction total? 

For the most part, they do!  But there are exceptions, so here are some guidelines to which you'll need to adhere.  Center staff will be reviewing all hours submitted to screen for adherence.

• If you've logged hours for PLP service, they also count toward your Service Distinction total.  If you've logged them through mycnuserviceprofile.org, you do not need to take any further steps. If you completed your hours prior to the existence of mycnuserviceprofile.org, please contact Krista Rogers (krista.rogers@cnu.edu) to let her know that you've met the PLP requirements and would like credit for x number of hours.
• At least 100 of your Service Distinction hours must be in the Hampton Roads area, but outside of CNU.
• At least 100 of your Service Distinction hours must be in one Service Track (waived for seniors).
• Paid work cannot count as service.  Unpaid internships can count as service.
• For service at religious institutions, certain exclusions apply.  Service cannot consist of engaging in or leading worship or religious study, but it can consist of helping others who choose to worship or engage in religious study by, for example, providing child care or chaperoning a youth group trip (without compensation). It can certainly consist of service work through the institution.
• For service at/through athletic events, certain exclusions apply.  Service cannot consist of engaging in a sport (even at a charity event), but it can consist of helping others to engage in a sport or sport fundraiser by, for example, coaching, fundraising, or event organizing.
• More guidelines can be found on this one-page PDF.

Question 3: What if I've volunteered while at CNU, but haven't logged any hours officially. Can I get credit for those hours?

More than likely, you can! If you haven’t yet logged any hours, or you haven't logged all of your hours prior to August 27, 2012, please create a profile and log in to mycnuengageprofile, and locate the form "Upload Prior Service Hours" for how to proceed.
 
Question 4. What's the next step?

It's simple: Volunteer! We'll make a note of your total hours as you log them at mycnuengageprofile.org (and - coming soon - make the information available to you online in realtime). Just keep in mind the following:

• At least 100 of your hours must be in one Service Track. (This requirement is waived for seniors.) 
• No more than 20 of your hours can be within CNU.
• No more than 40 of your hours can be from an alternative spring break.
• More guidelines can be found on this one-page PDF.
• Please choose an organization in our database of Community Partners, or contact us if you choose an outside organization. (More guidelines on this point will be forthcoming.  This requirement is waived for past service.)

More Information

For more information on the program, please contact CCE staff!