College of DuPage invites all students, faculty and staff to engage in volunteering and contribute to our community. With supervisory approval, the College offers Compensated Service Hours to regular full-time staff and regular part-time classified and managerial staff. Your participation makes a difference in our community.
How to Claim Your Compensated Service Hours
(Prior to the COD Cares Service Activity)
- Seek supervisory permission to participate in specific COD Cares service activity (recommended via email)
- Complete the employee leave request form on myACCESS as you would for any other type of time off and select "COD Cares" from the drop down menu.
Regular Full-Time Staff
Classified, Managerial, CSA-GMPC, FOP, Operating Engineers and Administrators will be allowed eight (8) Compensated Service Hours each fiscal year with supervisory approval to participate in official COD Cares group service activities listed on the calendar. Thereafter, it will be eight (8) Compensated Service Hours per fiscal year. Compensated Service Hours do not carry over to the next fiscal year.
Full- and Part-Time Faculty
Due to the nature of their positions, Compensated Service Hours are not available for full and part-time faculty. However, all faculty members are encouraged to participate in service events when their schedules allow. Interested part- and full-time faculty may also work with their Associate Deans on a "reasonable" basis to participate during office hours (if applicable).
Regular Part-Time Classified and Managerial Staff (.5 to .99% of FTE)
Regular part-time Classified and Managerial staff (.5 to .99% of FTE) will be allowed four (4) Compensated Service Hours with supervisory approval to participate in official COD Cares group service activities listed on the calendar. Thereafter, it will be four (4) Compensated Service Hours per fiscal year. Compensated Service Hours do not carry over to the next fiscal year.
Probationary Period
Compensated Service Hours become available to employees after the first 120 calendar days of employment have occurred, similar to Vacation and Floating Holiday hours.
COD Cares Activity During Non-Working Hours
If the COD Cares group service activity occurs during the employee's non-working hours, Compensated Service Hours may not be used and supervisory approval is not required. For example, if the employee works regular business hours (M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) and registers for an activity on a Saturday when they are normally not working, the employee may not use Compensated Service Hours and does not need supervisory approval. However, registration through COD Cares is still required to participate.
Travel Time
Compensated Service Hours are only applicable during hours when the employee would otherwise be working and may include travel time (up to 30 minutes each way) to and from activity.
Request Protocol
Compensated Service Hours are considered the same as any other College-regulated paid leave and follows the same request protocol with use of a Leave Reporting form (exempt) or myACCESS Time Entry (non-exempt).
Unforeseen Circumstances
COD Cares will make every effort to begin and end group service activities as scheduled. However, unforeseen circumstances may arise. If an employee is using Compensated Service Hours and returns to campus past the allotted time, the employee should discuss options for handling leave matters with his or her supervisor. Options include using additional Compensated Service Hours, vacation pay, or making up the extra time within one pay cycle.
Other Information
- An employee's time spent assisting a community-based organization during non-work hours does not qualify for Compensated Service Hours.
- Compensated Service Hours will only be paid at the employee's regular pay rate and cannot be used toward overtime hours.
- Participation in COD Cares activities is not mandatory
Contact Information
Joan DiPiero
Community Engagement Coordinator
(630) 942-3872
Email: dipieroj@cod.edu