Center for Human Resources
Employment and Classification

Volunteers

Providing Service Without Compensation

Policy and Procedure

SDSU, in conformance with California State University (CSU) policy and procedure, appoints volunteers to fulfill operational needs of the campus community.

Definition: a volunteer is an individual who performs work or provides services without compensation, whether on an ongoing basis or for a short term event.

Distinguishing characteristics: the volunteer appointment is distinguished from other positions/classifications in that the duties to be performed may vary from incumbent to incumbent and the appointment is not based on CSU job classification.

Typical activities: volunteers may perform a variety of functions in support of SDSU business operations. Some examples of volunteer work include, but are not limited to:

• Volunteers that assist in teaching, registration, graduation, and special events
• Students who volunteer for campus events or activities
• Retired staff who volunteer their time to assist department staff where they formerly worked

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Minimum Qualifications

Volunteers must have the necessary training and/or supervision to safely carry out the volunteer work and depending on the particular function to be performed, must meet the approved license/certification and CSU requirements. Requirements may include fingerprinting, background checks, and other processes established for specific types of work that may be required as determined by the campus president, the CSU, or the external agency at which the individual provides volunteer services.

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Volunteers Under the Age of 18

CSU volunteers may be under the age of 18. If the campus believes the CSU volunteer may be a minor, campuses shall ask the volunteer to verify their age when determining appropriate restrictions. If the CSU volunteer is under 18 years old, the campus shall request a copy of the volunteer’s birth certificate when determining whether work-related, age restriction may apply; i.e., volunteer who serve alcoholic beverages at an event, must be 21 years old. Although volunteers are not CSU-employees, the campus shall refer to the CSU Employment of Minors policy for guidelines on age-restrictions that may apply.

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Provisions

Individuals appointed as faculty, staff, or student volunteers under this policy are covered as an employee for purposes of workers’ compensation and state liability insurance; however, workers’ compensation coverage is not provided to students participating in university-sponsored Community Service Learning (CSL) programs. The community agency for which the CSL student is providing service and SDSU shall develop an agreement that articulates liability for workers’ compensation and other insurance coverage prior to the students’ placements.

Volunteers may drive a vehicle on official SDSU business as long as they possess a valid driver’s license, an active defensive driver training certificate, have a good driving record; and for appointments longer than 30 days, be enrolled in the DMV Pull  program. Also, all appropriate documentation must be completed granting approval to drive on university business. (See the SDSU Accounts Payable, Travel Manual, Section 5.14.0 — Transportation: Private, State, Commercial Vehicle for more information.)

Volunteers must possess, prior to appointment, the appropriate license or certificate, if required. For example, a medical doctor volunteering services must have a current license to practice medicine in the State of California and meet other special CSU qualifications.

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Procedures

Volunteers are appointed by use of the Volunteer Identification Form . The completed Volunteer Identification Form must be kept on file in the appointing department for approximately one year.

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Questions

Contact the Risk Management and Workers’ Compensation Manager at (619) 594-4664 for more information on volunteer services or appointments. See also, CSU Office of the General Counsel, Manual on University Volunteers. 

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Last updated October 10, 2007
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