Office of Student Life

Semester of Service

Semester of Service applications for Spring 2025 are open now!

Semester of Service is a leadership and service program that matches Ohio State students with local nonprofit organizations, where they serve on a weekly basis throughout the course of a semester. Students also participate in an educational curriculum to help prepare them to act as servant leaders in the Columbus community.  This experience provides students the opportunity to gain insight into the values and function of community service, while making a semester-long commitment to serve at a single agency.


Program Expectations

  • Student participants must be able to serve at least one volunteer shift (3-5 hours) per week at their assigned nonprofit organization.
  • Students are expected to attend five Semester of Service meetings which, for Spring 2025, will take place on the following Thursdays from 5-6 p.m.: January 16, February 13, March 6, March 27 and April 10. Make-up assignments will be provided to students with excused absences, including academic commitments. However, please note that all meetings will take place on a Thursday from 5-6 p.m. when considering applying.

Autumn 2024 Partner Sites

Click on each service site below to learn more about our Autumn 2024 community partners. Community partners are subject to change for Winter 2025.

Columbus Early Learning Centers

Provides early learning care to students in Columbus, as well as other wraparound services including access to housing and utility assistance, food security and holiday support for families. Volunteers will provide support to the administrative office, general operations, and Development Team, including organizing classroom supplies, recording and sorting in-kind supply donations, helping prepare for volunteer events, and fulfilling supply order requests for the five Early Learning Centers.

Furniture Bank of Central Ohio

Provides furniture to families in need to improve their quality of life. Volunteers may assist with assisting families as they select furniture, working on projects for the development team, assistance in the woodshop, or other tasks depending on their interests/comfort level.

Gladden House

A social services agency located in Franklinton, with a mission to strengthen the well-being of Franklinton’s children, families and community, and build a thriving equitable neighborhood. There are two pathways for volunteers: to assist with the operations of the on-site food pantry, or to assist with the after-school program by providing support for  meal time, homework help, and other play and enrichment activities with children ages Kindergarten through 5th grade

Heart to Heart Food Pantry

A food pantry housed out of First Community Church, which serves community members and hosts volunteers of all backgrounds. Volunteers will assist with operations of the food pantry, including packing/stocking food, assisting with drive-through operations, and other tasks.

Jewish Family Services

A community resource center that provides many services to individuals of all faiths, races, ages, economic circumstances, sexual orientation and gender identities, including refugees, seniors, and other individuals in need. Volunteers may assist with helping English Language Learners in a classroom environment, visiting with seniors, and other tasks.

LifeCare Alliance

A social services agency that assists clients facing medical conditions, disabilities, or aging in place by providing services such as Meals on Wheels. Volunteers will help input client orders into Walmart (for direct grocery delivery), making calls to clients and family members to ensure they're home to receive meal delivery, answering phone calls, and analyzing Meals-on-Wheels route lengths.

Neighborhood Services Inc.

A food pantry located near campus on the corner of 4th and 18th St. Volunteers assist with the daily operations of the food pantry, including loading and unloading trucks, stocking shelves, organizing foods, preparing fresh produce bags, assisting in the warehouse, and can potentially have the opportunity to interact with neighbors utilizing pantry services.

Star House

A 24/7 resource center for youth (ages 14-24) experiencing homelessness. Volunteers may assist with duties such as sorting donations, packaging food, data entry, creating social media content, assisting in fundraising campaigns, and working with full time staff on projects tailored to their specific interests

United Preparatory Academy

A K-5 elementary school located in Franklinton. Volunteers may assist with duties such as tutoring students, monitoring lunch and recess, basic office work, and helping with building operations. 


Additional Program Details

  • Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the service site. 
    • Reimbursement for travel costs may be provided, but is not guaranteed, for students whose sites are not on the COTA bus line.
    • Transportation estimates are calculated from the Ohio Union to the service site.
    • Each nonprofit will have 2+ students, allowing for the possibility of carpooling if it is a comfortable accomodation for all paired students' schedules.

Ready to Apply?

Applications for the Spring 2025 session of Semester of Service are open now and will close on Sunday, December 1 at 11:59 p.m.

Interested? Apply here!


Partner Organizations

Is your organization interested in hosting Semester of Service students?

 Please reach out to Madi Barnes at barnes.972@osu.edu for inquiries about the Semester of Service program.


Questions?

Please reach out to Madi Barnes at barnes.972@osu.edu.