Civic Engagement

Information For

Clubs and Organizations

SERV

(Student Enrichment Reinforced through Volunteer Experiences)

Nova Southeastern University and the Division of Student Affairs encourage student leaders to be more civically engaged with the campus and local community. Service events provide students unique opportunities to develop leadership skills, contribute positively in the lives of individuals and groups, and build community among student organizations.

The Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, in partnership with the Undergraduate Student Government Association, developed SERVE (Student Enrichment Reinforced through Volunteer Experiences) for all officially recognized NSU student organizations.

Mission

SERVE's mission is to foster Student Enrichment, Reinforced through Volunteer Experiences. Each community service activity must involve engaged students in responsible and purposeful actions to meet community defined needs.

What constitutes a SERVE hour?

A community service activity, under the guidance of SERVE, must achieve three of the following:

  • Intellectual growth
  • Effective communication
  • Clarified values
  • Leadership development
  • Healthy behavior
  • Independence
  • Collaboration
  • Social responsibility
  • Appreciation of diversity
  • Spiritual awareness

Examples of SERVE activities include:

  • Trash pickup
  • Awareness weeks or informational booths for recruitment of volunteers
  • Food and/or clothing collections (up to 3 events per semester, with a maximum of 2 SERV hours per event)
  • Work with the homeless, hungry, elderly, or adolescent.
  • For further ideas, please see SERVE Guidelines.

How SERVE hours are rewarded:

  • Any community service or philanthropic related opportunity is to be recorded via the Student Collaboration Database (https://nsu.nova.edu/scd/login) or physically returned, via the paper Project S.E.R.V.E. form, to the office within 48 hours after the end of the activity. When two or more members are represented at a service activity every volunteer hour served equals one Project S.E.R.V.E. hour earned. One Project S.E.R.V.E. hour translates to one IOC Sharkfin point up to thirty points. Organizations are encouraged to continue logging Project S.E.R.V.E. hours for all community service or philanthropic related activities. Please note: To remain in good standing with the Student Government Association as it pertains to request funds during budget hearings. All clubs/organizations registered under the Office of Student Activities must complete a minimum of 15 Project S.E.R.V.E. hours per semester. Failure to record & submit the required Project S.E.R.V.E. hours may result in the loss of an organization’s budget to be heard during set times.

  • All club- and/or organization-sponsored walks, drives, and active philanthropic large scale events must be pre-approved by the Graduate Assistant for Internal Service prior to any advertising. Organizers of such activities/events must set a goal (regarding monies or donations raised), and they must meet with the agency that the activity/event is intended to benefit.

  • All forms must be completed in their entirety by the club/organization volunteer contact.

  • The forms must be signed by a contact from the agency that the organization is seeking to serve. (If there is no agency representative, the form must be signed by the organization’s advisor.)

  • All forms are due to the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, Rosenthal Building, Room 207, within 2 business days of service project completion. Forms may be turned in by person, fax, and/or email.
    Note: This is necessary in order for clubs/organizations not to lose count of the hours served and to meet the semester deadline for submission of all service hours.

Benefits of Volunteering

  • Teambuilding
  • Intrinsic sense of self
  • Communication skills
  • Professional networking
  • Service in and around our NSU community
  • Increased attendance to events
  • Higher visibility of clubs/organizations
  • Overall sense of giving

C.A.U.S.E.

The organization CAUSE (Community Action Using Student Empowerment) strives to develop student leaders through engaged service to the community. CAUSE members participate in service projects throughout the greater South Florida community as well as take part in the service trips sponsored by the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement. Some events sponsored by CAUSE include: CAUSEfest, Can Castle, and much more!

Contact Us

For more information, contact the Graduate Assistant for Internal Service via email, or call 954-262-7297, or stop by the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, located in the Rosenthal Student Center, Room 202.