Long-term volunteering and service-learning can be an important part of not only gaining experience in career areas of interest for you, but also as you explore different career paths. 

Students achieve the "Serve" and "Engage" components of The IOWA Challenge through connections within the local community and beyond. Whether you choose to get involved through volunteering, academic service-learning, internships or other involvement, you are helping develop your own skills.  For more resources on the benefits of doing service and ways to get involved, check out Hawkeye Engage. If you are in Honors, talk to your Honors advisor about whether your service is eligible for honors program credit. 

 

Local/Regional Opportunities

  • Meet with your Career Coach for major specific service opportunities related to your career goals - schedule an appointment via MyUI

  • Meet with the Volunteer Manager for personalized advising for individuals and for student groups on connecting with non-profits and community partners for volunteering & service

  • Handshake

    • Pomerantz Career Center’s online recruiting database exclusively available to UI students. 

    • Search for volunteer options and internships in non-profits from organizations targeting UI students and recent graduates. 

    • Record volunteer, philanthropy, nonprofit internships, and academic service-learning experiences through Handshake

      • Every student has a Handshake account set up for them when they are admitted to the university.

      • Click here to access your Handshake account and then click on Students Log-In. Click on the Hawkid Login button and then enter your Hawkid and Hawkid password and this will take you to your profile page. Be sure to complete all fields. Some such as GPA may not be required, but they are important to include if you will be searching for jobs or internships in the future. 

      • To report and track your Volunteer experiences, once logged into your account, go to "Career Center", "Experiences" and then "Request an Experience" and choose the Volunteer, Service Learning & Philanthropies option. 

  • Talk to Academic Advisors for course recommendations that include service components

  • Meet with a Study Abroad advisor to discuss programs that involve service

  • Hawkeye Service Breaks for alternative breaks that involve service learning, social justice and community building

  • UI Hospitals and Clinics College Student Volunteers  - Students volunteers must follow established application process and associated deadlines.  Advanced planning is required.

  • Department of Social Work: Local Volunteer Opportunities

  • Volunteer Center of Johnson County

  • UI Women's Resource and Action Center

  • Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service  

  • Iowa Service Years

  • Compeer

 

National/International Opportunities

 

Finding Transportation

No Car? No Problem! There are plenty of great opportunities close to campus and more throughout the Iowa City/Coralville area. Public transportation is a great solution. 

 

Funding Resources

 

Resources for Service Careers

The below list is a great start but not all encompassing.  Consider the gap year resources as well as the career community pages for Helping & Counseling, Law & Public Service, and Health & Wellness.