To encourage and support staff to embrace the mission, vision and values through service, Seattle University offers Community Service Leave to participate, with pay, in community service activities that occur during regularly scheduled work hours.
Benefits eligible staff with an FTE of .75 or higher will receive three (3) working days every July 1 to engage in service to the community throughout the year. Those benefits eligible employees under .75 FTE receive 1.5 working days. These days do not accrue, do not count as hours worked for purposes of overtime, do not carry over into subsequent fiscal years, and are not paid out upon separation from the university. Employees who change FTE mid-year will not experience a change in Community Service Leave hours until the following July 1. Community Service Leave hours will not run into the negative; any accidental overage will be recorded as unpaid leave.
Participation in certain University sponsored immersion programs will follow Community Service Leave request procedures, but time away from work does not count against an individual's Community Service Leave balance.
| Employee Schedule | 1.0 to 0.75 FTE | 0.74 to 0.53 FTE |
|---|---|---|
| Community Service Leave Awarded on July 1 | 3 days | 1.5 days |
Community service activities are defined as those carried out in alignment with Seattle University’s mission of educating the whole person, professional formation, and empowering leaders for a just and humane world. The Center of Community Engagement offers a variety of community service and volunteer options. Visit ConnectSU to view available opportunities!
Note: Seattle University is a Section 501(c) (3) tax exempt organization. It is prohibited from participating or intervening, directly or indirectly, in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office, and has limits on the extent to which it can engage in lobbying activities. Therefore, employees may not use Community Service Leave to engage in political campaign-related activities or lobbying activities. Questions regarding prohibited political campaign intervention or lobbying should be directed to the Office of University Counsel.
Community Service Leave requests for both exempt and non-exempt employees are submitted online via mySeattleU. Exempt employees should utilize the “Leave Request” option, while non-exempt employees are advised to submit their requests through “Time Entry.”
It is essential to notify your supervisor well in advance of your planned leave to prevent any undue hardship on the operation of university business. This advance notice ensures proper planning and minimizes disruptions.
Community Service Leave can be taken in full or partial day increments and may be utilized for either one-time or regularly occurring community service opportunities. It is important to note that supervisors should not explore hiring additional temporary staff to substitute for employees on Community Service Leave.