Office of Leadership & Engagement

Community Service leave

EIU is committed to community engagement and encourages employees to participate in volunteer activities by providing flexibility in work schedules and paid leave opportunities. 

Community Service Leave Request Form

Qualifying Service: The Office of Leadership & Engagement maintains an online list of approved local agencies. Qualifying service includes "hands on" participation in an off-campus community service project led by a local government agency or a non-profit agency. For example, delivering meals to the elderly is an eligible activity, but attending a social event for the organization providing those meals would not qualify. Chaperoning a child's school trip, working a school or civic organization's fundraiser, and volunteering at a non-profit organization, school, nursing home or hospital are just a few of the service for which leave can be granted.  

Approval: Employees are required to obtain prior supervisor approval and must complete the service leave request form with the Office of Leadership & Engagement prior to the scheduled leave date. 

Reporting time: With appropriate supervisor approval, employees will report community service leave on their timesheet/leave report in the same manner you would vacation/sick leave. The Office of Leadership & Engagement will share with the Payroll Office a monthly list of approved community service leave requests. 

Eligibility: Civil Service, Administrative and Professional full-time employees with at least 1 year of service at the University may receive up to one paid day of service leave (7.5 hours) per fiscal year (July 1- June 30). This leave must be used during normal University business hours (Monday through Friday) and cannot be deployed over multiple days. Employees covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement should refer to their agreements for eligibility. 

No carryover: The leave expires on June 30th each year and cannot be carried forward to the next fiscal year. 

No Payout at Separation: This leave is non-compensable upon separation from the University.