Students are required to complete a minimum of 10 service hours per academic semester while enrolled at Lee excluding summer terms (up to 80 hours). For every 10 hours completed outside of a service-enhanced or service-embedded course, a volunteer project form and two-page reflection paper must be submitted to the Leonard Center. In a four-year program, students will complete 80 hours of service-learning. Transfer students enrolled at Lee University will be required to complete the equivalency of 10 service-learning hours for every semester they are at Lee University (up to 80 hours). Students can turn in a maximum of 20 hours per organization per academic year.

Deke Day

“Deke” is short hand for diakoneo, a Greek word found in the Bible meaning “to serve.” Deke Day is students’ first introduction to service-learning at Lee University. Hundreds of freshmen students load onto buses and vans bound for elderly care facilities and retirement communities. In each facility, students interact with residents and, in the process, come to gain a better understanding of the service-learning program and to engage with classmates in a meaningful way.

Service-Enhanced and Service-Embedded Courses

Faculty may choose to integrate service-learning with their courses. There are two options for this. First, a course can be service-embedded. This means that all students in the course must complete 10 or 20 hours of service and that part of their course grade relies on their completing the service and reflection in the course. The instructor ensures that all students in the course complete the service. The second option is for a course to be service-enhanced. These courses provide students with an option to engage in a service project connected with the subject matter being covered. Students in these courses do not have to complete 10 or 20 hours unless the instructor requires it. Also, reflection on the service can take place inside the class. However, students are often responsible for tracking the number of hours completed and submitting proof of their work along with reflection papers to the Leonard Center.

Individually Arranged Projects

For every 10 hours completed outside of a service-enhanced or service-embedded course, a volunteer project form and two-page reflection paper must be submitted to the Leonard Center. Service-learning hours are due by November 1 and/or April 1 of the respective semester. Please see form for further guidelines.

Eligibility

Lee University encourages and values all types of Christian service. However, only certain types of service may be counted toward the service-learning requirement. Students should e-mail Service Learning with a description of the activity and non-profit organization to request approval before participating in the project. Once pre-approval has been granted, students may receive credit for work done with the non-profit.

A student can receive no more than 20 hours of service credit per academic school year for any one service project or organization. Students who complete their 10 hours of service for the semester may work ahead and turn in hours that exceed the semester’s requirement.

The following types of service will not be counted toward graduation requirements unless pre-approved by the Leonard Center:

• Projects in which the student's family members are the primary recipients of the service
• On-campus service
• Singing, playing or performance based service
• Work for which the student receives pay
• Playing sports or exercising (including fundraising walks and runs) to raise money for a cause. However, if a student performs acceptable service that is pre-approved and raises money through that service, the student will be granted credit for the amount of time spent serving, not the amount of money raised

Service credit will not be granted for raising a certain amount of money for a cause. However, if a student performs acceptable service that is approved and raises money through that service, the student will be granted credit for the amount of time spent serving, not the amount of money raised. Under no circumstances will the amount of money raised be tied to the approval of a service project.