Service Guidelines

Community service plays an important role in the LVC student experience. Whether as part of a class, a student group/team endeavor or an independent pursuit, hands-on service helps to shape our understanding of who we are as members of a community.

However, in a time when safety limits us in the ways we may directly engage with others, we are reminded that the development of our civic leadership competencies—knowledge and awareness of who we are and the responsibilities we carry as members of a complex world—comes in many forms.

While our opportunities for off-campus, hands-on service will be limited, let’s embrace this chance to expand our knowledge, awareness, and understanding in new ways. May we also be reminded that the restrictions we feel today will not last forever, and that by honoring them, we are helping to preserve the safety of all, hence supporting our ultimate return to in-person service in the quickest, most effective way possible.

Types of Service Experiences & Who May Engage

Outdoor Indirect Service: Students may be un-masked if able to remain at least 3 feet apart

Outdoor Direct Service: Students shall be masked

Indoor Indirect Service: Students shall be masked and remain at least 3 feet apart

Indoor Direct Service: Projects of this nature are not permitted unless special approval is received from the Office of Service and Volunteerism

Direct: Students are in direct contact with the people they are helping.

Indirect: Students are not working directly with the people who will be helped by their service.

Any organization with which a student serves as part of an LVC-coordinated off-campus service opportunity must observe all current CDC, state, and county guidelines for group size, physical distance between individuals, proper protective equipment/face coverings, etc. Documented COVID-19 prevention practice guidelines must be collected from any partner organization before students serve there.

Transportation will not be provided to off-campus service sites. Students will be responsible for securing their own transportation (with the exception of the Orientation Service Project).

For all off-campus service initiatives, students will sign the following acknowledgement of risk (this is done automatically when students sign up via Redbook):

I understand that participation in trips or activities, including any form of transportation to and from trips or activities, involve risks,, including risks of physical injury, illness, death or property loss. I acknowledge that the College cannot fully control or eliminate these risks and cannot guarantee my safety. I agree that I am choosing to participate in the trip or activity voluntarily despite the risks. I recognize that Lebanon Valley College does not provide health and accident insurance for trip participants, and I understand that any medical expenses, property loss, or other personal expenditures that result during or from this travel/trip, are the responsibility of each participant. I consent for the trip chaperone to secure any medical treatment in event that I am unable to do so, and I agree to be responsible for the costs thereof.

All on-campus service activities shall be run in accordance with current LVC protocol, including compliance with guidelines regarding visitors to campus.

The Office of Service and Volunteerism will make available suggested projects that may safely be completed within each of these categories. If opportunities are developed by other departments/student groups on campus, they will likewise observe these guidelines. Students who are at risk of complications from COVID-19 are advised to avoid off-campus, in-person service opportunities and seek remote/virtual service opportunities instead.

As always, students are reminded to report their service hours in the following ways:

Students serving individually shall enter their hours via MyLVC -> My Info For Students -> Report Service Hours.

Students service as part of a group shall have a group leader email the following details to Sarah Shupp at shupp@lvc.edu:

  • Name of project
  • Date of project
  • Organization benefiting from the service
  • Names of all student participants
  • Hours served by each student participant