Volunteers

1.0    Purpose

This policy establishes guidelines for volunteer opportunities at Casper College including the selection, management, supervision, and termination of volunteers.

2.0    Revision History

3.0    Persons Affected

3.1    Casper College employees, students, volunteers, and visitors.

4.0    Policy

This policy of Casper College is to ensure the following.

4.1    The college promotes a safe campus environment.

4.2    The college provides volunteer opportunities when appropriate and beneficial to the college.

4.3    Volunteers are informed of their roles and knowledgeable of opportunities and limitations as volunteers.

4.4    The college strives to treat its volunteers in a fair and equitable manner.

4.5    Volunteers are aware of applicable policies pertaining to their volunteer role.

5.0    Definitions

5.1    Volunteers. People who provide services to the college under the supervision of a full-time college employee and without expectation of compensation. Volunteer services are for the benefit of the college. Volunteers are not college employees. Volunteers must be 14 years or older.

5.2    Volunteer Application. A form the college uses to gather information about people who want to volunteer including their qualifications and contact information.  

5.3    Background Checks. The process of searching public and criminal records to verify information and manage risk. A background check may include, but is not limited to, fingerprinting, social security number trace, address locator, federal, state, county, and city database searches for criminal history, child abuse neglect, violent crime convictions, sex offender registry, financial checks, credit checks, and any other pertinent information.

5.4    Service Learning. Experiential learning that combines community service and classroom instruction with a focus on critical, reflective thinking and personal and civic responsibility.

5.5    Exempt Volunteer Service. Activities generally considered low-risk and therefore exempt from completing a volunteer application and background check. Examples include members of a committee appointed either by the college or a third-party accrediting agency for the purpose of conducting a review in conjunction with a program assessment or accreditation review, state or federal government inspector, advisory board member, commencement volunteer, entertainers, and guest speaker or artist presenting a program or in-service type activity.

6.0    Responsibilities

6.1    The Human Resources (HR) director is responsible for maintaining compliance with this policy.

6.2    Supervisors are responsible for hiring, supervising, managing, and terminating volunteers and for ensuring volunteers complete all mandatory trainings.

6.3    Volunteers are responsible for adhering to all general policies and policies related to their volunteer position and following directives from their supervisor.

7.0    Procedures

Recruiting and Selecting Volunteers

7.1    Candidates submit Volunteer Applications and any required department specific materials to the department that has the volunteer assignment. Volunteers between the ages of 14 and 17 years must have written parental consent to volunteer and may have restrictions on their volunteer hours and assignments.

7.2    Supervisors review applications and select candidates. Supervisors then contact HR to conduct background checks.

7.3    HR submits information to perform a background check on individuals selected unless HR considers the role to be exempt volunteer service. HR will work with the volunteer’s supervisor to determine if the role is exempt volunteer service.  

7.4    HR will notify the supervisor if the volunteer is approved for the volunteer role.

Training

7.5    Supervisors coordinate with HR to provide applicable training on college policies. Supervisors also provide relative departmental or school training related to the volunteer role.

7.6    The volunteer must participate in policy and departmental or school training related to the volunteer role.

Termination

7.7    Supervisors may terminate volunteers or volunteer roles at their discretion.