Volunteer Code of Conduct

• Improve lives - make a difference by helping those in need
• Give back to your community
• Connect to others - network, make new friends and strengthen existing relationships
• Learn to build skills and gain experience that will enhance your resume
• Explore and boost career options - find out about your passions
• Fulfill service learning requirements for class or service hour requirements for scholarship programs
• Have fun!
  

Every Dustdevil is strongly encouraged to donate their time and talent to deserving organizations across the South Texas region and beyond. The SCCE maintains an ongoing effort to serve by encouraging all students to be part of the community engagement experience.

Since 2010, students have volunteered over 53,000 hours of their time to serve local, nationwide, and global initiatives.  This record-breaking number was made possible by the leadership, initiative, commitment and dedication that TAMIU students demonstrate to the community.

To maintain recognition as an official student organization at TAMIU, student organizations are required to complete one hundred (100) hours of community service each year.

Volunteer opportunities are as diverse and abundant as the people in our community.  To choose a volunteer position which is right for you, find something that fits your interests; work with an organization that supports your beliefs and sparks your passions.  Also, you can choose to serve for a cause related to the mission of your student organization.

Get started! Click here to access a database of agencies/organizations in the Laredo community.

Keep informed! We’ll make sure to e-mail you information on upcoming volunteer opportunities which interest you if you fill out this quick Service Interest Form.

TAMIU encourages all students to maintain current records of their participation in volunteer service by reporting all service hours to SCCE via Collegiate Link (http://tamiu.collegiatelink.net).  Whether your participation is an independent effort, student organization involvement or a scholarship program requirement, we can assist you in tracking all volunteer service you complete as a college student.

Report your hours:

• General Students
• Instruction Guide
• Verification Timesheet

• Student Organizations
• Instruction Guide
• Community Service Form

• D. D. Hachar Honors Scholarship Program
• Instruction Guide
• Verification Timesheet

• A. R. Sanchez Scholarship Program
• Instruction Guide
• Verification Timesheet

TAMIU and the Office of Student Conduct & Community Engagement recognize efforts of community engagement in various ways.

University Life Awards
During the Spring semester, TAMIU recognizes the student organization with the most community service hours during the school year at the University Life Awards and awards a commemorative plaque that showcases their accomplishment.

Outstanding Service Leader
Every month from August through May, SCCE recognizes one student that has displayed ongoing efforts to help our local community and have gone above and beyond to promote service as an integral part of cultivating a commitment to help those in need.  The Outstanding Service Leader is nominated by TAMIU faculty, staff and fellow students. To submit a nomination for Outstanding Service Leader, click here.

Community Engagement Partner
Aligning with Outstanding Service Leader, SCCE recognizes an external agency/organization between the months of August through May for their outstanding partnerships with students and student organizations at TAMIU.  Nominations for Community Engagement Partner may be received by TAMIU faculty, staff and students.  To submit a nomination for Community Engagement Partner, click here.

As a new certifying organization for the Corporation for National and Community Service, starting in Fall 2014 TAMIU may award it’s students one of the highest volunteer honors – presidential recognition.  The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) recognizes United States citizens and lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States who have achieved a specific number of hours.

Award Criteria:

• Recipients must be United States citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents of the United States
• Awards are issued for service hours served within a 12-month period or over the course of a lifetime.
• Awards are issued for volunteer service only.  Additional levels of participation with the organization, i.e. charitable support, are not a factor considered for the award.
• Court-ordered community service does not qualify for the award.
• Awards are issued by approved Certifying Organizations.
• Service must be with an organization that is legally established in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or one of the territories.

Bronze Level:

• Young Adults (Ages 15-25): 100 to 174 service hours
• Adults (26+): 100 to 249 hours

Silver Level:

• Young Adults (Ages 15-25): 175 to 249 hours
• Adults (26+): 250 to 499 hours

Gold Level:

• Young Adults (Ages 15-25): 250 hours or more
• Adults (26+): 500 hours or more

Lifetime Level:

• All Ages: 4,000 hours or more

In April of every Spring semester, SCCE will confirm the eligibility of the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) for all students which have served and reported hours through SCCE via Collegiate Link. Students meeting this requirement will be contacted by the SCCE via their TAMIU Dusty e-mail accounts to inform of award eligibility and details. The default 12-month period of eligibility is from April 1st of the prior year to March 31st of the current school year. For students which graduate in a term other than Spring, the 12-month period of eligibility may be adjusted to November 1st of the prior year to October 31st of the current school year.

If you are graduating in a term other than Spring and meet the qualifications for the award, please submit an e-mail to iserve@tamiu.edu with your full name and TAMIU Dusty e-mail address for eligibility verification.

TAMIU currently hosts two large-scale service events each academic year to assist and support our local community.

Our students are excited ready to partner with an organization to identify and address issues of public concern and promote social responsibility.

Make a Difference Day

• The largest community service day nationwide.
• Occurs every Fall semester on the last Saturday of October.
• Over 220 TAMIU students volunteered during Make a Difference Day 2014.
• Make a Difference Day 2015: Saturday, October  24!

The Big Event

• A service day tradition started by Texas A&M University in 1982 now celebrated by universities nationwide.
• Occurs every Spring semester during March.
• Over 100 TAMIU students volunteered during The Big Event 2014.
• The Big Event 2015: Saturday, March 28!
  

If you are a non-profit agency/organization in the Laredo area and would like to host either of these large-scale service events, submit your application by clicking here!

Objectives

1. To prepare students to engage in meaningful service;
2. To inform students about service opportunities as it applies to their specific interest or career goal;
3. To monitor students' commitment to service and report results to Univeristy community.

Student co-curricular learning outcomes

1. Appreciate people from diverse background;
2. Exhibit a commitment to social and civic responsibility;
3. Demonstrate a commitment to be an involved citizen in his or her community.

Community impact outcomes

1. Help the community partner's meet the agency's mission;
2. Promote the exchange of resources between the University and community agency;
3. Situate the University as a positive and just citizen in the community.