Volunteer and Service Learning Program

To maintain accuracy, integrity, and compliance with university policy, students must be officially enrolled at FAMU during the semester in which they complete volunteer service if they want those hours:

• Submitted in iRattler

• Reviewed and approved by VSLP

• Counted for membership eligibility (e.g., fraternities, sororities, selective programs)

• Reflected on their official FAMU transcript (when applicable)

Hours cannot be reviewed, approved, or moved to a different semester to match enrollment.

Example

A student not enrolled in Fall 2025:

• Cannot submit Fall 2025 hours

• Cannot place those hours onto the Spring 2026 semester

• Doing so would constitute falsification of university records

Winter Break Exception

Hours performed during Winter Break can count toward Spring only if the student is enrolled for the upcoming Spring term.

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We are aware of this issue. In the meantime, if your approved hours are not showing for Fall 2023 – Summer 2024, please email the following details:

• Full Name
• FAMU ID#
• Number of Hours Missing
• Term the Hours Should Be Applied To

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All volunteer hours should be logged and tracked in iRattler.Back to top

The Tallahassee community is an integral part of the service and volunteer experience for FAMU students. The community provides students with experiential learning opportunities that directly impact the people of Tallahassee. When engaging FAMU students for service and volunteer projects in Tallahassee there are some things community organizations and organizers should do to prepare. Identify a volunteer supervisor/contact person.  This person will be responsible for working with student volunteers.Conducting a volunteer orientation or trainingSupervising the students during the service/volunteer activityTracking student hoursApproving (or denying) involvement entries in iStrike. This requires an official email address (ie jon.doe@famu.edu).  Gmail, Yahoo or other free email services accounts are not acceptable. Conduct an orientation or workshop.  This will be your opportunity to prepare students for the demands of the service/volunteer activity.Introduce the supervisor/contact personExplain volunteer expectationsExplain the time commitments.Explain how hours should be documented on site. Explain the deadline for submitting the involvement hours on iStrike. Collect emergency contact information. When onsite, a student may experience a crisis that will require you to contact someone who knows the student personally. Submit a Service & Volunteer Announcement Request. Approved requests will be posted on iStrike and emailed to all FAMU students that have completed the ESUA Leadership & Service Learning Orientation.  

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How Students Should Prepare for Service and Volunteering

Complete Your iStrike and iRattler Profiles

• iStrike provides information about leadership and service opportunities.

• iRattler is the only platform where students submit service hours for review, approval, and transcript consideration.

• Make sure both profiles are updated with your correct contact information.

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Prepare for Your Service Activity

Before you begin volunteering:

• Attend any required training or orientation from the host site

• Identify the project supervisor

• Confirm attire or uniform requirements

• Clarify how your hours will be recorded or verified

• Ensure the service aligns with your personal, academic, or professional goals

Representation matters. You represent yourself and FAMU—professionalism is expected at all times.

If you are unable to meet a commitment, notify the supervisor promptly.

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Submit Your Hours in iRattler Immediately After Completing Service

Timely submission ensures your hours:

• Are reviewed in the next processing cycle

• Can be applied to your transcript if eligible

• Are visible for audits (e.g., scholarship checks, membership eligibility)

Important Submission Notes:

• Hours are reviewed in the order they are received.

• The deadline is the date students must submit hours—not the date by which VSLP must finish reviewing them.

• Hours submitted before the deadline will be reviewed, even if the approval occurs afterward.

• You can always view the status of your submissions using the link below:
  https://famu.campuslabs.com/engage/news/331236

Volunteer hours are not required to appear on your transcript; transcript reflection is offered as a courtesy and not guaranteed each cycle.

Regardless of approval/denial in the portal, VSLP staff can still view your entries for membership verification or audit purposes.

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Educate Your Site Supervisor

Many service sites are unfamiliar with FAMU’s process. Help them understand:

• If the site doesn't have a clear process for tracking or logging hours, use/share with them one of our templates.

• They must use a professional/business email—personal emails cannot be accepted.

• Their approval is required for your hours to be validated.

• Timely responses help ensure your hours appear in the next reporting cycle.

• Stay in communication with your volunteer site or group to ensure they provide you with the proper documents and signatures.

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Follow Up on Your Submissions

It is your responsibility to ensure your hours are accurately reflected.

• Check your iRattler entries regularly

• Follow up with the verifying supervisor if hours remain pending

• Review your transcript monthly to confirm hours have posted (when applicable) and or reviewered 

• Stay in communication with your volunteer site or group to ensure they provide you with the proper documents and signatures.

If something is incorrect, submit a Volunteer Hour Audit Request through the VSLP website.

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Volunteer & Service Hour Submission Process 

Volunteer hours are tracked and verified within our iRattler system. When a student and/or group completes volunteer hours, they must acquire the following documents:    Submit Hours Verification Letter of Hours and Services Rendered: 
Must be on the sponsoring entity's official letterhead and have an original “handwritten” signature at the bottom. Letters cannot be written or signed by a student i.e. President, Vice President, Community Service Chair, etc. of the organization/sponsoring entity. Your Letter Must Include:  Contact Information of the sponsoring entity, company, department, organization, etc. you completed the service.  The sponsoring entity’s name, volunteer activities/services performed, and the number of hours completed/awarded.  Month, Day, and year service was performed (MM/DD/YYYY). Your full name (first and last name), FAMU email address, and your FAMU ID#.
A handwritten signature.  Submitted in PDF Format . Sample Volunteer Letter  You will need to upload your unofficial transcript from iRattler for proof of enrollment. Must be enrolled at the time volunteer service was performed and submitting hours.  

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Document Upload and Hour Submission Form: 

Step 1.  

LOG INTO iRATTLER  SELECT STUDENT CENTER  SELECT VOLUNTEER  SELECT ADD A NEW VALUE   

Step 2. 

Submitted hours will undergo the verification process. FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS *** PLEASE NOTE, iRATTLER. WILL ONLY ACCEPT PDF FORMATTED DOCUMENT  

Step 3. 

CLICK SAVE AND SUBMIT  ***IF YOU WISH TO ADD MULTIPLE “PROOF OF SERVICE” LETTERS, CLICK SAVE AND THEN ADD.  ONLY CLICK SAVE WHEN YOU ARE DONE ADDING ALL “PROOF OF SERVICE LETTERS”  Allow at least, 7-14 Business Days for hours to appear on the transcript.  

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Hours are processed twice a month, on the 1st and the 15th of each month or the next business day if falls on a weekend or holiday. No hours will be processed after either date. If submitted after one deadline, hours will be processed on the next submission date. 

• The Office of the Registrar places hours on transcripts after a report is requested by VSLP within this timeline.
• Posting may take 7-14 business days.
• Processing may occur faster at times, but the above timeline is standard.

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A valid confirmation letter must:

• Be on official letterhead.
• Include the supervisor’s full name, position, and contact info.
• Be signed (not by a student) and submitted in PDF formate

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