USF Area Health Education Center
USF Health
 

What is the USF Health Service Corps ?

This USF Health-wide, interdisciplinary program enables USF Health students in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Physical Therapy and Pharmacy to participate in meaningful,  rewarding and fun health-related community service activities together. The USF Health Service Corps is sponsored by the USF Area Health Education Center and has its own Coordinator (Mrs. Ellen Kent, MPH, CPH) who assists the USF Health students in planning, implementing and evaluating service learning activities.     

In the past, each College had initiated its own service activities, e.g. National Primary Care Week, Public Health Week, Nurses Week, health fairs, school physicals and more. However, there was little interdisciplinary collaboration between Colleges for these events. The purpose of the USF Health Service Corps is to facilitate opportunities for students in all areas of USF Health to work together on specific time-limited service events, as well as new ongoing service learning projects throughout the year.

The USF Health Service Corps is designed primarily for USF Health students in the CON, COPH, COM, DPT and COP  programs.  For some non-clinical events, there will be opportunities for USF undergraduate pre-health professional students to become involved.

Both short- and long-term service events and projects are offered throughout the year in the greater Tampa area as well as in nearby rural areas. Students can learn more about these specific opportunities at the Events and Projects  webpage. Students are also encouraged to check out the Photo Gallery and Annual Reports  and  Service Corps Powerpoint websites to gain a better 'feel' for the many opportunities available through the Service Corps!  

What are the benefits of participating in the USF Health Service Corps?

Students who become involved in the USF Health Service Corps can:

  • Relax, have fun and make new friends 
  • Gain great work experience through service
  • Meet and network with future employers
  • Earn recommendations for future jobs
  • Learn about new career opportunities
  • Mentor college undergraduates and high school students  
  • Build an impressive resume
  • Make a positive difference in the community!

How can I get involved?  

  1. Select an event/project of interest to you from the  Spring 2013 Service Opportunities website for the most up to date, comprehensive listing of events and projects, which are arranged by categories.  You can also click on the Service Corps Calendar to view upcoming events in chronological order. 
  2. Then, a few days before each service event that you have signed up for, you will receive an email with details regarding what to expect, what to wear, what to  bring and of course, directions!  Please remember, that  if you sign up for a service event, we are depending on you to come to the event and to also act in a professional manner. We appreciate your consideration in this matter.
  3. Participate! Have fun! Thank you!

How can I record my involvement in USF Health Service Corps events and projects? 

(A) Start your own personal log. You can download the Service log form and save it to your own computer. You can record your hours and provide a detailed description of the service project on this form.  This log is also helpful for you to use to document all of your hours throughout the year, if you wish to also use the co-curricular transcript  system.

(B) USF students can now enter their participation in service through USF Health Service Corps events and projects on the USF co-curricular transcript  (CCT) system. Your co-curricular transcript can be helpful to you when you are applying for jobs, fellowships, internships, etc .   Helpful Steps: (1) Go to  Blackboard.  (2) Click on the academics button on top bar.  (3) In next window, click on the 'Request the new CCT Activity ' button.  (4) A new window will open up and you will see a green bar with drop-down  boxes.  Under 'Campus' choose Tampa, under 'Activity Type' choose community service and under 'Activity Name', choose USF Health Service Corps Events and Projects. Be sure to select  the appropriate academic year listed after USF Health Service Corps Events and Projects. (You can select 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012) .  (5) Under 'Possible Roles', select  Participant.   (6) Under the 'Hours' box, you can enter the total number of hours that you participated in through different Service Corps events during the entire academic year.  Please note that in this system, you can only submit one request for Service Corps activities for each academic year.  Therefore, we advise students to wait until the end of the academic year to submit all of your accumulated hours at once. (7) Then hit the Submit button.  (8) Mrs. Kent will receive an email and then she will review your record and approve it, providing that your request for hours matches her records of your service.  (e.g.  if you participated in 3 four hour events, only request 12 hours, as Mrs.  Kent maintains records of the names of students who actually participate in each event.)  (9)  Mrs. Kent can even add in comments that will appear on your transcript; e.g. a mini-recommendation.  (10) If you are graduating in December, then just submit  your hours from September through December.

(C) USF Health students can use both systems for  documenting their history of community service  at USF Health; the Service Log will be especially beneficial to you in updating your resume as it is more qualitative in nature, and the co-curricular transcript  (CCT) system serves as an official document. Moreover, you can use the Service Log to help you prepare for your CCT request at the end of the academic year.

What are the Service Corps' specific policies and procedures ?

This document:  USF Health Service Corps Health Fair Policies and Procedures and Advisory Committee provides details on both: (a) policies and procedures related to health fairs and screening events and (b) the student advisory committee.

How can I find out more information?

Please feel free to contact Ellen Kent, MPH, CPH,  Coordinator for the USF Health Service Corps, at ekent@health.usf.edu or 813-974-6622  or room 2150 H at the College of Public Health if you are:

  • A USF Health student or pre-health professional student and
    • would like to obtain further information about the USF Health Service Corps,
    • are interested in serving on the USF Health Service Corps Advisory Committee, and/or
    • have an idea for a service project and wish to open up this event to student groups throughout the USF Health.
  • A faculty member and you are looking for service projects for your students to be engaged in as part of a regular course.
  • A community member and you are looking for students to help with a service project at your organization.

Again, please feel free to contact Ellen Kent, MPH, CPH, Coordinator for USF Health Service Corps, at ekent@health.usf.edu  with your suggestions and questions about community service at USF Health and she will be very happy to help you - Thank you!