5.19 - Volunteering at the College Policy

Purpose

Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) recognizes the importance of individuals who perform services in support of the College’s mission. This policy characterizes the nature of volunteer service and establishes mechanisms to promote a safe, productive, and mutually beneficial environment.

Scope

This policy applies to volunteers and all employees intending to utilize volunteers to perform services for the College.

Policy Statement

Volunteers are not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and are not considered employees for any purpose. Volunteers will provide services to the College without promise, expectation, or receipt of wages, compensation, benefits, unemployment coverage, or remuneration of any sort for services rendered and have no assurance or reason to expect KCKCC will offer employment following the volunteer period. A volunteer should not displace a current or past paid position. A volunteer’s services may be discontinued by the College at any time without prior warning. Similarly, the volunteer may end service at any time.

Human Resources (HR), in consultation with appropriate administrative offices, has the authority to determine whether services provided to the College represent a volunteer or an employment relationship pursuant to the interpretation of the FLSA and Internal Revenue Services (IRS) regulations.

Volunteers are subject to and must abide by all applicable KCKCC policies and procedures and all external regulations that govern their actions. Supervisors are obligated to ensure that volunteers conduct themselves consistently with college policies and procedures.

In the event of an accident while a volunteer is performing services for the College, workers’ compensation coverage is not guaranteed and will be determined by the State of Kansas.

Volunteer Requirements

A volunteer must complete a volunteer information form, applicable background check, and a signed liability waiver. Human Resources will retain all completed paperwork.

Volunteers must be assigned to a college department. It is the responsibility of the department to assign a college employee to supervise the volunteer and to ascertain if an individual has adequate experience, qualifications and training for the tasks they perform.

An individual under the age of 18 requires the permission of a parent/guardian, and direct supervision from the parent/guardian may be required by the College unless the individual is a student enrolled at KCKCC.

Volunteer Exclusions

A college employee may not perform volunteer services for the College that are identical or similar to their duties as an employee.

Background Checks

Background checks may not be required for a one-time event or for events that last two days or less, unless the volunteer is under 18 years of age, or the activity participants are minors.

Prohibited Volunteer Responsibilities

Volunteers are prohibited from engaging in any of the following activities in service to the College unless specifically approved in advance by the appropriate President’s Cabinet member and by HR:

• Operate heavy or dangerous equipment, including college vehicles.
• Work with infectious or potentially infectious agents, including bodily fluids.

Reference: Policy 5.08 - Minors on College Property