Community Service and Mission Hours

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." Oscar Wilde

Community service is one of the best ways to help benefit the public or give back to your community. It does not only have positive effects on society, but it will bring benefits to your life and personal development. Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity.

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." Mother Teresa

As the first university in the City of San Francisco, we have a commitment to the common good of all San Francisco residents. The Jesuit tradition of higher education sees the university as a source of social transformation. Therefore, our hope is that employees are able to develop long-term reciprocal partnerships with community-based organizations as they explore their own values in relationship to the core values of the university. As an institution that values transformative solidarity and integral human development, we encourage cultural humility and discernment before, after, and during the day of Community Service and Mission.

USF promotes employees to volunteer and participate in mission activities. As part of this commitment, USF provides one paid day off per year. Access the policy here.

You can use hours at different times and they renew each January 1. Hours that are not used do not carry over to the following calendar year.

All full-time (.8 FTE or greater) non-collectively bargained employees,full-time employees in the Public Safety Officers Association (PSOA), full-time employees in the United Service Workers West (USWW), and full-time employees in the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), and full-time Librarians in the USFFA are eligible to participate.

  1. Submit your request for time off in writing to your supervisor at least 2 weeks in advance. 
  2. Once approved, complete the agreement and attach to your time off request in USFWorks. The Service and Mission time off plan can be found under "Other Absence Types."

FAQs

No. Your community service can be anywhere regardless of where you live. In fact, you can volunteer virtually if that best fits your schedule.

GoUSF invites you to “be the change you wish to see in the world” by helping others!Check out our resources and tips.

Yes and volunteering as a team has many benefits. Volunteering fosters a connection between employees and their work. This connection and feeling of doing good for others raises morale and increases employee retention rates. People enjoy working in places that empower them and give them a sense of purpose.

Suggestion: Make a service opportunity a reward for finishing a big project or consider hosting your holiday parties around a volunteer event.

Yes. You may volunteer in your child's classroom.

With busy schedules and to-do lists piling up, it can be hard to find ways to fit volunteering into your schedule. That's why volunteering at your children's school is a wonderful way to give back and connect with your child.

USF is recognized as exempt from federal income taxation as an organization described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and as such, is prohibited from engaging in certain political activities. Due to this restriction, employees may not use these hours when volunteering for the benefit of any candidate, political party or piece of legislation.

  1. Research the causes or issues that are important to you. Look for a group that deals with issues about which you feel strongly.
  2. Consider what you have to offer. If you enjoy outdoor work or have a knack for teaching, you may want to look for a volunteer opportunity in which your special skills can be utilized.  Similarly, you may want to think about your specific personality and how your organization skills or communication style might fit with different organizations or activities.
  3. Think outside the box! Many community groups that are looking for volunteers, like neighborhood watch programs, prisons, disaster relief organizations, youth organizations, intergenerational programs and park services, may not have occurred to you but may be a perfect fit.
  4. There's no need to wait to be asked. There are many ways to find organizations that are looking for volunteers. Ask your friends or colleagues about their own volunteering activities. The internet has great online volunteer referral services, including volunteer.gov.
  5. Would you like to learn something new? Consider whether the organization offers training or professional development opportunities for their volunteers. Volunteering can provide you with the chance to learn about something you're interested in and can help you develop skills in a new area.
  6. Volunteer with friends or as a family. Volunteering with others can be a great way to get to know people better and can help keep you excited about volunteering.

Contact leaves@usfca.edu with any questions