Guidelines of Service

Community engagement describes collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.– adapted from Carnegie classification 2025.

At West Virginia University (WVU), community engagement is not just an initiative—it’s a reflection of who we are and how we connect with the world around us. By aligning engagement with our core values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation, we provide faculty, staff, and students with a meaningful way to approach collaboration. This connection recognizes that engagement can take many forms, from one-time efforts to long-term collaborations, to create thoughtful, impactful, and sustainable exchanges of knowledge and resources. Faculty and others can use this framework to shape their work, build stronger partnerships, and create lasting change in ways that truly represent WVU’s commitment to both education and community impact.   

Service

        Community engagement is inherently service-oriented, aligning with WVU’s commitment to meaningful societal contributions. By creating reciprocal partnerships, WVU ensures that service is not just an action but a sustainable commitment to the well-being of communities.

Curiosity

            Effective community engagement is driven by curiosity—exploring community needs, engaging in research, and discovering innovative solutions. WVU’s dedication to inquiry fuels transformative partnerships that create new knowledge and drive change.

Respect

            Community engagement centers around respect, requiring authentic, reciprocal relationships with communities. WVU upholds this value by ensuring that partnerships are built on mutual trust, transparency, and co-creation, recognizing the expertise and voices of community members.

Accountability

            Engaged scholarship demands accountability—both to communities and to the university’s mission. WVU remains committed to evaluating impact, sustaining ethical partnerships, and continuously improving its engagement efforts to maximize positive outcomes.

Appreciation

        Community engagement creates a culture of appreciation by recognizing the knowledge, strengths, and assets of both the university and its partners. WVU’s collaborative approach ensures that all contributions are valued, and that the university and its communities grow together.

 Specific language (this is a selection, not a comprehensive list)

Volunteer: Any student, faculty or staff member from any WVU campus, engaged in any type of service defined below.

Community Service: The practice of volunteering one’s time and talents to promote the common good and personal growth, while meeting actual community needs.

Service-Learning: A teaching and learning strategy by which students learn through intentional and structured community service tied to specific learning outcomes and integrated through reflection.

Outreach: Improving outcomes for individuals and families in West Virginia and the surrounding region through sustainable, active collaborations, building on resources, skills, expertise, and research-based, knowledge in a manner that is consistent with the land grant mission.

Community Engagement: The collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.

Community Engaged Research: Collaborative process between researcher and community partner with the intent to disseminate knowledge that will contribute to both the community and institution/discipline goals.

Civic Responsibility and Activism is...

• Lifelong citizenship development through participation, engagement and empowerment
• Institutions fulfilling their purpose while acting to promote a strong inclusive democracy
• Creating a larger sense of mission, purpose, integrity, and clarity of direction
• Supporting the development of community and belonging

A “learning through action” philosophy that informs methodology which educators utilize to engage learners in intentional direct experience and focused reflection outside the traditional classroom setting to increase knowledge, develop skills and strategies, clarify values, and apply prior learning. (Adapted from the Association of Experiential Education).

• Every hour of service is an hour of valuable learning experience that will build community and allow students to grow and explore. With this in mind, service recorded on iServe should be reflected upon by students and must support the following outcomes: 

  • Creates a sense of belonging in the community. A sense of belonging makes you feel safe and supported and encourages you to care about the people and places around you. 
  • Educates about the differences and similarities of others; expands your worldview. 
  • Improves the quality of life for community residents and meets their stated needs. 
  • Aids in identity exploration, including values, purpose, and career paths. 
  • Increases self-efficacy (i.e., a belief that your voice has value and can make a difference) and self-confidence. 
  
  
• The service may include, but is not limited to, participation with non-profit, governmental, public, faith-based, campus, or community-based organizations.  
  
• Informal service (service outside of an organization) must include answering a question that allows you to reflect on the service. Informal service completed for family members may not be recorded. 
  
• Service activity may not be directly supervised by family members. 
  
• Purpose 2 Action, AmeriCorps, formal internship, Energy Express, and Service-Learning hours may be recorded in iServe, as these activities, although they may have some monetary compensation or be course requirements, include reflection on service that facilitates the goals of community service. 
  
• If volunteers assist in the collection or distribution of donated goods, the time spent doing so may be recorded as service hours. 
  
• The donation of money or food and other store-bought goods cannot be reported in iServe. While there is indisputable value in donating items, these types of donations do not meet the service requirements of iServe. 
  
• Students who make items such as blankets for donation can record the number of hours they spent creating the item(s) along with where the items were donated. Gifts made for friends or family may not be recorded.
• Please contact an organization before making items intended for donation to ensure that the organization can accept these items.
• Students who donate or attempt to donate blood can record their time spent donating as service hours in iServe, up to two hours.  
  
• Students fostering animals in their homes may record up to 4 hours per day. If a student feels this activity has taken up more time (due to veterinary visits or special care), the student may email iServe to request an exception. 
  
• Students may use the same service hours to meet the service requirements of multiple courses, at the discretion of the course instructors. Hours cannot be counted twice towards CCE recognition goals (i.e., certificates, pins, or graduation cords). 

If you have questions about whether a particular service opportunity you intend to complete meets the above guidelines, please contact the CCE staff at: CCE@mail.wvu.edu or call us at 304-293-8761 before beginning service.

WVU organizations and community-based organizations may create an organization profile and post Volunteer Needs on iServe. 

• The CCE will review and approve Volunteer Needs from non-profit, governmental, public, faith-based, campus, or community-based organizations. 

• The CCE and iServe will not post Volunteer Needs from private families/individuals. This includes but is not limited to requests for tutors, personal care assistants, nannies, and pet care. 

• The CCE reserves the right to decline Volunteer Needs that do not meet our guidelines.