Have you used your Community Service Leave benefit for this fiscal year?
On average, eligible Drake employees used less than one hour of community service leave per person during the last fiscal year. Let’s make the most of this benefit, which strengthens ourselves and our communities!
What is Community Service Leave?
Drake University recognizes the importance of community involvement and encourages employees to participate in volunteer and service activities. Community Service Leave (policy) allows staff the opportunity to participate in community service activities that occur during regularly scheduled work hours, without using vacation or personal time. Full-time, regular employees can request paid leave for up to 8 hours per fiscal year to spend time supporting your favorite not-for-profit.
Community service leave is a paid time off benefit and can be used for:
- Volunteer or service work for non-profit community service organizations
- Volunteer work at a school, including the school your children or grandchildren attend (including field trips, events and school-related projects)
- Participation in a Drake-sponsored community service activity
- Blood, bone marrow, and organ donation
- Disaster relief and emergency volunteer activities
Why volunteer?
Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for the volunteer. The right match can help you find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career. You do not need to make a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day to reap the benefits of volunteering. Giving in even simple ways can:
- Improve physical and mental health – research shows that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression and anxiety, reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine.
- Connect you to others – volunteering allows you to connect with your community and make it a better place.
- Teach valuable skills – the training and hands-on experience you gain while volunteering can help you learn new skills, as well as build upon ones you already have.
- Boost your resume – potential employers are often impressed by applicants who have taken the time to volunteer as it shows that you’re dedicated and have a strong work ethic.
- Expands your perspective – whether local or abroad, when you volunteer, you work with different age groups, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Where can I find volunteer opportunities?
Drake’s online community engagement platform, DUgood, connects students, faculty, and staff across campus with partners in Des Moines and beyond. Use the DUgood platform to find opportunities to get involved in our community, track your impact, and explore what your fellow Bulldogs are doing to make a difference.
— Elissa Johnson, On behalf of ASC Events & Community Service Committee