Christensen Community Scholars FAQs

Yes. Be sure to log them regularly in AggiePulse.

You may count any properly recorded hours in AggiePulse during your time at USU. Hours completed prior to your acceptance into the Christensen Scholars program should have a supervisor's contact information.

Yes.

Yes. For example, if you are coordinating an environmental clean-up project, the time spent calling and organizing volunteers for the project can be counted, as well as the time actually spent on the clean-up project.

Yes and no. Typically, travel time to and from service projects in Logan does not count toward the 200 hour requirement. However, if travel is a significant part of your service in Logan you may contact the Assistant Director of Community-Engaged Learning to have travel time approved. However, travel time to service locations outside of Logan does count.

No. Service can be done over a semester or summer while you are not registered for classes.

You should complete your reports each month through AggiePulse. You are required to have them completed prior to your semester meeting with a program advisor. Do not wait until the end of the semester to record your hours-- your memory might not be as good as you think!

There are a number of ways to find out about opportunities:

• Browse through the opportunities listed in AggiePulse
• Visit the Christensen Office of Social Action & Sustainability (TSC 316A) to brainstorm ideas
• Choose a non-profit of interest and let them know of your commitment to engage over the long term
• Set up a time to talk with Nelda, the Assistant Director of Community-Engaged Learning

Our record holder completed over 1,000 hours of service in one year! This was an extraordinary effort and is not recommended for most students.
Here are some guidelines:

• Hours add up over time. The earlier you begin, the easier it will be. If you begin the program two years before your graduate you could finish the 200 hour requirement volunteering just a few hours a week
• Record your hours regularly. You will be surprised how much time you are actually volunteering if you record it regularly. Many student forget hours and projects if they do not record them as they occur
• Start your Community Action Project early. The hours you spend on your project count toward your 200 hours

One way to start is to volunteer at different agencies while working toward your 200 hours. When you have decided what type of volunteer work you enjoy most, what issues concern you, and what the community needs are that interest you, you can decide how to combine that type of community service with your major course of study.

There is no requirement for how long the project should take, but plan on spending a significant amount of time completing the work that encapsulates your scholor experience.

Yes! Only your hours count toward the 200 hour requirement. Involvement of others in the project can provide you with experience in organizing the work of others and help your project to continue after you have graduated

Yes, designated CEL courses taken before the student officially enrolls as a scholar may be used.

Yes, you must have a 3.0 GPA prior to admission into the program, and you will need at least a 3.0 GPA at graduation.

Yes. We've coordinated this with the Honors program staff. Make sure you point out the overlap on both contracts. Honors Mentoring Agreements (HMAs) that are community-focused can count as a CEL course.

The Community Voices & Engagement Workshop Series is a new, flexible way to learn about opportunities to engage in our communities. Each workshop is facilitated by staff from the Center for Community Engagement and will feature guests from local nonprofits and other organizations. Six workshops will take place over the course of the school year, and scholars are required to attend at least three of them. This workshop series takes the place of the former USU 2160 course requirement.