Service Challenge FAQs
OCS > Service Challenge > FAQs
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What are some examples of service that will count towards the service challenge?
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What are some examples of service activities that have counted so far?
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What are some examples of service will not count towards the service challenge?
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What should I do if I have questions about a particular activity counting towards the challenge?
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What types of organizations does VolunteerMatch partner with?
- What will happen if GW does not reach the 100,000 hour goal?
Q: What are the dates of the service challenge?
Service completed between 12:00AM August 25th, 2009 until 11:59PM May
1, 2009 and reported in the VolunteerMatch online system will be counted towards the Mrs. Obama Service Challenge.
Q: What are some examples of service that will count towards the service challenge?
Service hours that are direct and active will be included in the Mrs. Obama Service Challenge. This includes volunteering (without pay) at a homeless shelter, tutoring, teaching English as a Second Language, coaching for a children's sports league, volunteering at a soup kitchen, etc.
Q: What are some examples of service activities that have counted so far?
Your participation in events like Freshman Day of Service or hours spent making sandwiches as part of Program Board’s Project PB&J are examples of activities that would count towards the challenge.
Q: What are some examples of service will not count towards the service challenge?
Service that is not considered direct or active will not be counted towards the Mrs. Obama Service Challenge. For example, attending a charity benefit event/concert, volunteering for a for-profit organization, volunteering at a non-service-related GW event (e.g., Commencement), sitting on a non-profit organization's/community board, etc. will not be included in the hours tally for the service challenge.
Q: How were those guidelines developed?
The guidelines were developed by the Service Challenge Advisory Committee and based on the service definitions set by the federal government’s Corporation for National and Community Service to select schools for the President’s Community Service Honor Roll. You can learn more about the Corporation’s definition by going to http://bit.ly/31iyXd.
Q: What should I do if I have questions about a particular activity counting towards the challenge?
You should review the guidelines on http://serve.gwu.edu. If you have additional questions, you can direct your inquiry to the Office of Community Service and it will be reviewed by the Service Challenge Advisory Committee. You can e-mail your questions to serve@gwu.edu.
Q: Am I required to report my hours?
We encourage all students, faculty, staff and trustees participating in service activities to report their hours so that it can be counted for the challenge. However, it will be up to each individual to report his/her hours and there is no penalty for non-participation.
Q: Q: When do I have to report my hours by?
You must have all your service activity completed and reported to GW’s Office of Community Service by 11:59 p.m. EDT, May 1, 2010. You can report your hours by going online to http://serve.gwu.edu. We encourage members of the GW Community to enter their service hours immediately after completing their service in order to get the most accurate count.
Q: What is VolunteerMatch?
Volunteer Match is a non-profit organization that strengthens communities by connecting good people with good causes. Over 61,000 agencies list their volunteer opportunities with VolunteerMatch so they can find the right people to make their mission happen.
Q: What types of organizations does VolunteerMatch partner with?
VolunteerMatch is a network of community service organizations. Any nonprofit tax-exempt organization with a civic, social, health or educational mission is that has opted to join the VolunteerMatch network may be featured on this Web site.
Q: How do I find a volunteer opportunity?
Click "Search" on the home page to view volunteer opportunities near your home by entering your location. Click on "Advanced Search" to narrow your search. Review the search results and click on an opportunity that interests you. After you read through the details, click "I want to help!" to communicate with the organization for which you are interested in volunteering. The organization will contact you to schedule and confirm your volunteer opportunity.
Q: How do I register to volunteer?
A VolunteerMatch account has been setup for you, and you will receive an email with all your login information. To access your account, follow the link provided in the email, complete your registration profile, and change your password. If you do not receive an account email, click on "My Account" in the menu bar at the top of the page and then click on "Forgot your password?" Enter your GW email address (i.e. "netIDd@gwu.edu") and a temporary password will be emailed to you so that you can access your account and update your profile.
Q: How can I get involved in a volunteer project?
There are many ways to get involved:
- Visit the site to view and express interest in existing volunteer opportunities in your area.
- Participate individually through an organization with which you normally volunteer or wish to volunteer, and then log your hours on the site.
- Participate in a community service project with your student organization or department as part of a teambuilding effort, and then log your hours on the site.
Q: What if I forget my password?
Click on the “Forgot your password?” link underneath the login fields on the left side of the landing page. A temporary password will be issued to you by email to log in. You can also email gw_support@volunteermatch.org.
Q: How do I report my hours on the VolunteerMatch Web site?
Log on and click "My Account". Next click "Add or Manage Volunteer Hours" under My Tools.
Q: What are GW Community Partners?
GW Community Partners are organizations with whom the Office of Community Service (OCS) at GW has developed a formal relationship. These organizations have been verified as being easily accessible from campus via public transportation, and have also agreed to the University’s risk management policies. This site features select volunteer opportunities from these organizations by showing them in bold typeface when included in general search results and listings on VolunteerMatch.
Q: What are GW Special Events?
GW Special Events are opportunities that various offices, groups, or departments at the University have created specifically for GW students, faculty, staff and trustees. Some examples of these events include Freshman Day of Service, MLK Day of Service, student organization service projects, service learning classes, and many more.
Q: How do I organize my own service event?
Organizing your own service event is very easy. Email serve@gwu.edu to learn more about how to use the tools on VolunteerMatch to plan your own event.
Q: Who can participate?
Current students, faculty, staff and trustees can participate in the service challenge.
Q: Why aren’t alumni service hours included in this challenge?
Alumni service is worthwhile and encouraged, but these hours will not be counted toward this challenge. We encourage all alumni to continue making public service part of their lives.
Q: How did this service challenge come about?
In June 2009, Student Association President Julie Bindelglass and Student Association Executive Vice President Jason Lifton wrote to the First Lady . In the letter, Ms. Bindelglass and Mr. Lifton highlighted the University’s programs geared to encourage service, including the Yellow Ribbon Program and Freshman Day of Service. Upon learning about GW’s commitment to service, Mrs. Obama issued the challenge as a way to encourage the GW community to do even more.
Q: What will happen if GW does not reach the 100,000 hour goal?
We have full confidence that the GW community will reach this goal by the May 1st deadline.
Q: Where can I find out more information about Commencement?
Go to http://commencement.gwu.edu to learn more about the 2010 Commencement.
2129 G Street NW, Building D, Suite 101
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: (202) 994-5493, Fax: (202) 994-8736
ocs@gwu.edu