We are proud to recognize the meaningful ways our students give back to the broader campus and surrounding community. The information below is meant to clarify which activities can be recorded as volunteer hours, helping ensure that submitted hours reflect service that addresses community needs.

Eligible Volunteer Activities
Non-Eligible Volunteer Activities
Note to Student Clubs
Questions?

Eligible Volunteer Activities

Eligible volunteer hours must reflect service that benefits the broader campus or the surrounding community.

Activities that generally qualify include:

• Community Partner Service: Volunteer activities completed in partnership with a nonprofit, school, government agency, or community-based organization that serves the public good.
  • Examples: tutoring at a local school, assisting at a food pantry, volunteering at a community call center, supporting habitat restoration efforts, or supporting a city agency initiative.
• Campus-Wide Service Initiatives: Projects or events that benefit the broader student body or the surrounding community.
  • Examples: hosting a campus blood drive, organizing a winter coat collection, coordinating a voter registration drive, or facilitating a resource fair.
• Charitable Fundraising: Fundraisers where proceeds directly support a nonprofit or charitable organization.
  • Examples: raising funds for disaster relief, hosting a charity run, organizing a benefit performance, or collecting donations for a local shelter.

Non-Eligible Volunteer Activities

The following activities do not generally qualify to be counted as volunteer service hours:

• Compensated Service: Any service for which compensation is received, including money, stipends, or other forms of compensation.
• Religious Activities: Activities primarily focused on religious proselytising, instruction, outreach, or spreading specific religious messages or doctrines.
• Political Volunteering: Efforts that directly support specific political candidates or parties.
• Court-Ordered Community Service: Services mandated by a court order.
• Travel and Downtime: Time spent traveling to and from the service location, as well as breaks for meals and rest.
• Internal Club Operations: General body meetings, executive board meetings, recruitment tabling, internal planning sessions not tied to a specific service project, budget discussions, or social events.

Note to Student Clubs

We recognize and value the important role Lehman student clubs play in strengthening both campus life and the broader community. Your leadership and engagement contribute meaningfully to our shared mission of service.

Service completed through a student club may count toward volunteer hours when the activity benefits the broader campus or the surrounding community. Examples include hosting a campus-wide food drive, fundraising for a charitable cause, partnering with a nonprofit, or organizing a service-focused event open to others. Time spent planning and carrying out these initiatives is eligible.

Activities that primarily support the club's internal operations or growth do not qualify. This includes recruitment tabling, general body or executive board meetings, organizing social events, internal planning not tied to a specific service project, and administrative tasks such as preparing or reviewing the club's budget, submitting funding requests, or completing required campus paperwork.

Questions?

For any clarification or additional information regarding eligible volunteer hours, please contact Jenny Landsman at jenny.landsman@lehman.cuny.edu.

If you are a student and are ready to submit your volunteer hours, please follow the instructions below to ensure your hours are accurately recorded.

• Access the Portal: Open a new tab and visit the Lehman Lighting Connections site.
• Sign In: Click on "Sign In" at the top right corner and enter your CUNYfirst credentials.

Navigate to Experiences: After signing in, click your initial in the top-right corner to open the User Drawer, then select "Experiences."

Add Experience: In the Experiences section, click "Add Experience" and select "Volunteer Hours Submission."

Enter Details: Complete the form with your volunteer event details.

• As part of the process, you will be able to upload supporting documentation. Please upload a signed letter, email, or other document verifying your service hours. You can view sample documents here.
  
• Students can also use the Volunteer Hours Verification Form.

If you need any help during this process, please schedule an online virtual session: Submitting Volunteer Hours (30-Minutes) or email Jenny Landsman at jenny.landsman@lehman.cuny.edu.