Community Service

Whether you’re a student, staff, or faculty member, we encourage you to volunteer in our community! Through service to others, you will gain a stronger sense of purpose, self-worth and connection to the local community. In addition, while pitching in with others, you’re sure to have great experiences, make new friends, and learn valuable skills.

AU G.I.V.S.

Ashland University Gets Involved with Volunteer Service

Mission

As a student led organization, we provide Ashland University community service opportunities to expand their social and educational experiences. We hope to foster a deeper understanding of social responsibility while normalizing civic engagement and a lifelong commitment to service.

AU G.I.V.S. Teams

We have six teams that serve the needs of our community. These are the Senior Citizens Team, Government Relations Team, Unity Team, Youth Team, Peers for Animal Welfare (P.A.W.) Team and Hunger & Homelessness Team.

Here are just some of the service activities you might engage in on these teams:

Dog walking at the local animal shelter or socializing cats to make them ready for adoption.
Feeding the homeless at a local breakfast center or helping with Feed Ashland, one of the largest food drives in Ashland County.
Visiting with local senior citizens at Good Shepherd Nursing Home.
Playing with kids who have disabilities for an evening to give their parents a night off (as part of the Ashland Special Needs Ministry Respite Program).
Helping out with the local Father-Daughter Dance.
Making holiday cards for veterans.
Cleaning up areas of our local environment.

How to Join an AU G.I.V.S. Team

To be part of the team(s) you have a special passion for, you must attend 8 hours of AU G.I.V.S. events. Once you have completed your hours, you will be listed on the roster as a member of AU G.I.V.S.

Contact Information

Office of Community Service

Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

254 Hawkins-Conard Student Center

comserve@ashland.edu

419-207-6325

Ella Ives

President, Office of Community Service

eives@ashland.edu

Hour Tracking Form

Follow us on social media

Events and information about AU G.I.V.S. can be found on

AU Volunteer Service Time Off Policy

We have established the Volunteer Service Time Off policy to give Ashland University staff an opportunity for community volunteering that is meaningful, purposeful and helpful to those in need. It also enriches and inspires the staff members who participate. We hope to support our university’s goal of enhancing community engagement and to serve the community in which we live and work.

All regular full- and part-time* hourly and salaried staff may volunteer up to eight hours per fiscal year with an Executive Leadership Team pre-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or in accordance with Ashland University’s giving and volunteering policies. More than one organization may be chosen.

*Part-time staff are eligible for up to 4 hours if their regularly scheduled hours are 20 or more per week.

Staff will be paid at their normal rate for the volunteer hours used. Time off to volunteer may be taken in blocks of two to eight hours, but is not to exceed eight hours per fiscal year for full-time staff and four hours per fiscal year for part-time staff who are regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week.

Any volunteer opportunity sponsored by Ashland University is eligible for Volunteer Service Time Off. If an opportunity is not sponsored by Ashland University and the organization associated with it is not currently on the approved list, the nominated volunteer organization(s) must meet three out of the four following criteria:

Located in Ashland County or the county in which your specific Ashland University work site is located.
Is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a church-affiliated group/organization or municipality.
Is a “volunteer-minded” organization (it provides structured tasks for volunteers to complete).
Is an established United Way community partner.

For further information, please review the Volunteer Service Time Off policy.