The ServScript Program would like to provide some guidelines and examples of which types of service qualifies and does not qualify for the program. If the type of service you performed is not on this list, please send any questions you may have about whether it qualifies to ServScript@admin.fsu.edu for clarification.
Qualifying Activities
- Contributes to the solution of an identified community need.
- Unpaid.
- Serving in K through 12 schools
- Service to hospitals, or nursing homes.
- On-campus service conducted for the benefit of the University.
- Non-partisan voter registration drives (see ‘Election Based Service’ under ‘Special Considerations’ for more information)
- Issue-based education, including spreading awareness about a community-identified need or proposed public policy
- Operation and coordination of a donation drive (of food, clothing, items, or funding).
- Planning/coordinating service projects for a student organization.
- Directing or creating films/documentaries, (if the subject is about a community need or social issue).
- Fundraising for a nonprofit agency/service organization involved in addressing/meeting a community need.
- Laboratory Work/Student Research if focused on a community need.
- Donating blood/plasma (maximum one hour per donation).
- Training for immediate application for service (i.e., phlebotomy, CPR, First Aid)
Non-Qualifying Activities
- Received financial or material payment for the service.
- Service to an individual's own family and within family, including work at a family business or company.
- Service for a profit-making organization/business except for institutions like hospitals, or nursing homes.
- Observations/Job shadowing in a classroom, hospital, clinical setting, etc. (see ‘Internships’ under ‘Special Considerations’ for more information)
- Service performed as a result of a disciplinary action taken by an organization, the university, or the legal/court system.
- Religious Activities:
- Any activity for the purpose of promoting a preferred religious or political viewpoint or person.
- Religious devotion or any activity which can be interpreted as proselytizing.
- Service specifically for the benefit of a religious house of worship and/or its congregation (Example: childcare during church service, running AV equipment, Acolyte, altar server, lay reader, Vacation Bible School, clerical work for religious organizations, Sunday School teacher, etc.).
- Religious instruction concerning the practice of religion.
- Political/Partisan Efforts: Any political campaign or event that promotes a specific candidate or political party (see ‘Election Based Service’ under ‘Special Considerations’ below for more information.)
- Leadership Roles within Student Organizations:
- Holding an Executive Board position within a Fraternity/Sorority, Recognized Student Organization, FSU Committee/Council (SGA, Honors, etc.).
- Attending FSU Organization meetings or programs, unless the program is service.
- Attendance at Leadership Trainings, National Conference Sessions, etc.
- Making donations (including Locks of Love, food, clothing items, money, etc.).
- Travel to and from the service location unless specifically part of the service or involved reflection.
- Scorekeeping for FSU sporting event.
- Working concessions at FSU sporting events.
- FSU Teacher’s Assistant/Office Hours.
- Awards/Appreciation Banquets.
- Serving as a Greek Life Recruitment Counselor/Rho Gamma.
Possible Qualifying Activities & Special Considerations
There are some situations in which the nature or context of our activities can sometimes qualify as service, and sometimes not. Below are some common examples of activities that fall into a middle-zone of qualifying. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or would like clarification on if your activities can be logged in ServScript or not.
Election-based Service
A national election provides a number of different ways for engagement. Engagement that is non-partisan, unconnected with a particular candidate or campaign, and broad in nature can count as service. Engagement focused on a single candidate or political party does not qualify as service through FSU ServScript. Below are some examples we hope you will find helpful.
What counts as service hours?
Volunteer Poll Working: Everyone who volunteers to work at the polls must remain objective and unbiased. Poll workers are typically compensated for their time, but you are also given the option to have your wages donated to a non-profit or organization. If you choose to donate your wages, poll working counts as service. Training required in order to volunteer also counts as service hours.
Non-Partisan Voter Registration: The right to vote is essential. Every vote counts. If you are helping to register people to vote, regardless of their party affiliation or personal ideologies, it counts as service. The act of registering yourself to vote does not count as service.
What might count as service hours?
Issue-based education: Education and awareness regarding public policy is a form of service if it addresses a non-partisan community need. Educating others on a specific community or policy issue may count as service, so long as you are not telling or encouraging others how to vote or feel about the issue. This type of service should be about creating awareness and understanding of sometimes complex issues, not about a specific political party or individual. Examples include environmental education, local education budgets, and proposed voter initiatives or amendments. Be sure to only count hours for work regarding issues that are non-partisan and not party-affiliated.
What does not count as service hours?
Campaigning for a candidate or political party: Encouraging someone how to vote, trying to get people with a specific viewpoint to vote, or advocating for one political party or candidate never qualify as service that is eligible for your ServScript.
Promoting one political party or ideology: Promoting just one political party or encouraging others to vote along party lines or in a particular ideological fashion does not qualify as service for your ServScript.
Working for a campaign/political party: If you are receiving a paycheck or other formal compensation, you cannot log hours on ServScript. Even if not being financially compensated, volunteering for a campaign or political party is not eligible for ServScript hours.
How should election-based service be listed under an agency?
While it will not always be as clear cut as we would prefer, we encourage you to think about the coordinating body, non-profit organization, or ultimate beneficiary of your service hours. Consider some of the following groups/organizations that you could serve with:
- Your local Supervisor of Elections Office
- The city/county in which your issue advocacy occurred
- A national voter organization or non-partisan voting group
- Campus Election Engagement Project
- Campus Vote Project
- Florida PIRGs
- Rock the Vote
- A non-profit or organization dedicated to public policy or issue-based education related to your service work
Can’t find your agency listed? You can always submit a request that we add an agency to the ServScript database. It usually takes us four weeks to review and add new agencies.
Internships
Unpaid internships can count as service so long as they are with a non-profit organization or are directly meeting the needs of the community. Internships with for-profit businesses or private companies can count only if the work you are performing is resulting in a pro-bono benefit to the community. Simply having an unpaid internship does not automatically count as service.
Mentorship
Participating as a mentor in a formal/structured mentorships program that is coordinated by a third-party organizer in which you are assigned a mentee counts as service. Providing advice or informal mentorship to peers or friends, especially within your student organization does not count as service.
Service with Religious Groups
If your club, church, or civic organization conducts service for non-religious humanitarian purposes that meets the needs of others in the community (such as serving food to those experiencing food insecurity or provide disaster relief services) regardless of their faith beliefs, this can count as service. So long as religious education or promoting your specific religious beliefs is not part of the activity, you can do service WITH a religious group for the benefit of the general community.
Tutoring
Tutoring other students, regardless of their level (K-12, college, continuing education, etc.) can count as service so long as it is part of a structured tutoring program such as the FSU ACE Tutoring Lab or a K-12 school. Helping your peer or friend to study does not count as tutoring or service. Tutoring in which you receive payment of any kind does not count as service.
