Religious Volunteers

The Religious Volunteer policy was created to give students on-campus access to religious support from members of the broader community. Read below for more information.

Background

Religious Volunteers operate separately from our religiously-based student organizations.
  • Policy

    A Religious Volunteer can reserve space on campus to meet with individual students or with small groups of students for ministry purposes, but not to advise them as a student group that is not registered on campus. Likewise, the College’s limited affiliation with Religious Volunteers pertains only to the Volunteers’ exercise of the privileges provided in the Religious Volunteers policy (i.e., inclusion on distribution lists, “tabling” with campus organizations, and reserving space on campus).

    Any off-campus events / interactions involving students and people who serve as Religious Volunteers are not affiliated with the College, and whoever is sponsoring those events (i.e., a church, a denomination, a ministry program) should be transparent with students that these are not College-sponsored or affiliated events. While the Religious Volunteer may be an advisor to a registered student organization, they do not have to be. And, a religiously focused registered student organizations can be advised by an advisor who is a campus employee, but not a Religious Volunteer.

    For information about registered religiously-based student organizations please visit Cougar Connect.

    See the full policy here.

  • Process to Become a Religious Volunteer

    We have updated our Religious Volunteer Application and Registration process in order to comply with our Religious Volunteer Policy. We are asking everyone to follow these steps to get us all back on track and on the same cycle:

    Step 1: Applicants fill out the CofC Religious Volunteer Application. This will help us collect your information, affiliation and agree to our policy's criteria. This will also give us contact information for the group you're affiliated with who can vouch for your application. If you aren't affiliated it has a space for you to explain what you're seeking to provide.

    Step 2: We'll send you the background check link and reach out to your group representative to certify their affiliation.

    Step 3: Once the background check and affiliation certification clear, we'll send you the Zero Pay form to fill out and we'll get it submitted to HR. You will be added to our official list and be granted all the rights and privileges of being a Religious Volunteer.

    Please note the following Liability Insurance Criteria for application, as outlined in Section B of the Religious Volunteer Policy:

    c. Maintain liability insurance that the College deems sufficient to cover any potential liability incurred in or arising out of the volunteer's or organization's relationship with the College with a limit of at least $1,000,000 per occurence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate. The College must be listed as an additional name insured.

    If you have any questions, please contact James Contratto, contrattoj@charleston.edu, Executive Director of Student Involvement.