Service Hours

Students are encouraged to find or design their own service project to fulfill their required service hours. The following requirements apply:

The project must assist people who are socially or economically disadvantaged and provide the kind of atmosphere in keeping with the mission of the Ignatian Service Program. Therefore, in choosing a service project, we ask that it involve direct work with those in need and not be something that the student would ordinarily do.
The idea is for the student to be engaged in work that pushes him beyond his “comfort zone,” a project which puts him in an environment in that he is not completely “comfortable.” This challenging atmosphere is where true learning happens.
As a result of this philosophy, programs such as helping relatives, coaching CYO teams, or others programs similar that do not place the student in a setting with disadvantaged people or beyond his “comfort zone” WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED for the student’s service hour requirement. We want to acknowledge the good that each of our students are doing, but want to encourage them to do something more.
Any program which includes a stipend is not acceptable. Travel time should not count unless it is directly connected to the service the student is performing.

How To Obtain Approval for Outside Service Programs

All Prep sponsored service programs are pre-approved. Any program advertised in the announcements by the Ignatian Service Office, posted on the Ignatian Service website, or run by the Community Service Corps or the Ignatian Service Office fit this description. Outside projects are approved according to the following procedure:

Students must speak with the Director of the Ignatian Service Program about the program the student is interested in participating after reviewing the requirements in the Non-School Sponsored Programs section above. The student should know if the project follows the guidelines listed before asking for permission.
Work on an outside project should not begin until approval has been given by the Director of the Ignatian Service Program. Otherwise, the student assumes the risk that the hours completed on that program might not be counted.