What is a Service Hour?

A service hour is defined as an hour of service volunteered by a student that will benefit their school or community. It is not considered a service hour if it benefits a social activity for club members. 

Requirements for service hours

The service hours must be completed and submitted onto the TheLink. When submitting the service hours, you must state your role in the activity and give a detailed description of what the opportunity was. The person submitted for verification must be somebody other than the person completing the service hour.

TheLink

ACTIVITIES THAT WILL NOT COUNT

  • Donating money to an organization, a student must give time rather than funds. 
  • Club/organization activities, time spent that only benefits the membership of an organization cannot be considered service. 
  • Tabling, philanthropy for one's own organization is not benefiting others in the community. The time has to be serviced to other members of the community.
  • Work for which you receive compensation, it is not service if you receive financial, or other benefits. 

ACCEPTABLE ACTIVITIES

  • Voluntary work completed in order to support another person, group of people or organization.
  • Activities carried out by individual students or groups of students to enhance and contribute to their local community.
  • These activities can take place within Arkansas or outside of Arkansas.
  • Direct Service - students have direct contact with those they service (tutoring, serving meals, visiting, providing care, etc.).
  • Indirect Service - students perform a service without face-to-face contact with the recipient (working at a food or clothing drive, making a product like a blanket or doll for use elsewhere, and fundraising).
  • Advocacy - students educate others about a particular issue (writing letters to law makers, displaying posters to target audiences, etc.).
  • Donating blood can count as 1 hour.
  • Donating twenty (20) items such as: food, books, clothing, etc. can count as 1 hour.
    • Proof of purchase must be uploaded for it to count.  

How to Log Hours

  1. Go to thelink.atu.edu
  2. Click on the profile widget in the top right corner and login using your OneTech username and password. 
  3. Click the "profile" button under the profile widget. 
  4. Next, click the "Apply for Opportunity" tab.
  5. Select "Service Hours" under the dropdown menu, add the number of service hours completed, and fill out the service hours questions. 
  6. Finally, click the green submit for approval button on the top of the page!

For questions, contact Megan Bell at (479)968-0275 or mbell11@atu.edu 

LOGGING RULES

  • Students must upload their Service time on TheLink within one month of completion. 
    • Ex: Kathi volunteered on September 1st at the Food pantry for 2 hours. Kathi has until October 1st to log their 2 hours on TheLink or they will no longer be approved. 
  • Students must upload proof of donation or form will be denied.
  • Students must include a detailed description of service or form will be denied. 

Get recognized

Service Excellence Award

Each semester Arkansas Tech recognizes students who have received 100 or more service hours at the graduate ceremonies in May, August, and December. This award is known as the Service Excellence Award and students can been seen wearing a large medallion with their graduation regalia. For any questions contact the Department of Campus Life at campuslife@atu.edu or 479.968.0276. Students wishing to receive this recognition may submit their application by clicking the link below. This Application's deadline is TBD for Fall 2024 graduates.