Mount Wachusett Community College is incredibly proud of our students’ commitment to community service. Each year, we recognize the outstanding efforts of our graduating students. The Service Learning and Volunteerism Recognition Program was created to recognize the valuable contributions of students who have devoted their time, energy, leadership and talents towards the betterment of our community.
Awards Ceremony
The MWCC Service Learning and Volunteerism Celebration is a semi-formal event, by invitation only. Unfortunately, due to capacity, students are not allowed to bring guests. During the Celebration, honorees receive their service pins or medallions, and additional awards and forms of recognition are presented.
Eligibility
All students who have reported service learning or college-sponsored volunteerism hours (for programs such as MWCC Alternative Spring Break, United Way Day of Caring, and MWCC student club volunteerism) are eligible for recognition. Hours must be approved by the faculty member or instructor for each service learning course or by the MWCC club advisor or MWCC administrator in charge of the individual activity. Eligibility for each level of award is cumulative over the course of the student’s studies at MWCC (since 2006) and must be reported by May 1 for consideration for an invitation to the MWCC Service Learning and Volunteerism Celebration.
Recognition levels are as follows:
- Minimum of 20 hours: a service lapel pin
- 40+ hours of service: Civic Scholars Medallion to wear at graduation
- 75+ hours of service: Civic Scholars Medallion and a lapel pin
- 100+ hours of service: certificate of recognition from President Vander Hooven
- 100+ hours of service within the Academic Year (July 1-June 30): possible eligibility for the United States President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). Students must meet conditions set by the federal government for the PVSA. PVSA certificates will be mailed to the address on the student’s official MWCC record only after PVSA eligibility is certified. (Students may continue to report MWCC-affiliated volunteerism for PVSA consideration beyond the May 6, 2015 deadline for all other service awards.)
The best way for a student to ensure that his or her service learning and volunteer hours appear on his or her transcript is to submit timesheets using the online tracking system, GivePulse. Only service learning and volunteer hours approved by an MWCC instructor, MWCC student club advisor, or MWCC program administrator will be noted on the student’s transcript.
Deadlines to Log Hours
Fall Semester: All service learning and internship hours for the Fall semester must be logged by the end of the second week in December, unless you have prior approval from your professor. All MWCC-affiliated volunteerism must be logged by the end of the Fall semester (third week in December).
Spring Semester Graduating students: All graduating students must have all hours service learning, volunteerism, and internship hours logged by the end of the first week of May. Any hours logged after that date will not be counted towards a student’s hour total for recognition at graduation.
Spring Semester Non-graduating students: All service learning and internship hours for the Spring semester must be logged by the end of the second week in May, unless you have prior approval from your professor. All MWCC-affiliated volunteerism must be logged by the end of the Spring semester.
Still have questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact the Brewer Center at (978) 630-9435.