Can students volunteer in labs or other departments/events on campus?
Students cannot volunteer if what they are doing would otherwise be a paying position or others are being paid to do the same task. Volunteering refers to donating time with an organizaton whose primary purpose is civic, charitable, or humanitarian in nature, without promise, expectation, or receipt of any type of compensation for services rendered. The basic principle below should help you to determine if the position is truly a volunteer position.
Are you a volunteer?
- You do not expect compensation or future employment.
- You do not displace a genuine employee and the services you provide are not the same services that you were previously paid for.
- You do not expect to be hired or paid in the future.
- There are other volunteers doing the same work as you who are also not receiving any form of compensation.
- Your employer/entity is NOT labeling you a "volunteer" just to avoid paying or compensating you.
- You are NOT volunteering solely to acquire job or professional skills to add to your CV/Resume.
- You are performing services for a non-profit organization for public service, religious or humanitarian objective.
