College Volunteer Program

Whether you are motivated to give back to your community or want to learn more about the healthcare field, you will find volunteering to be a rewarding and exciting experience at UNC Health Rex. The UNC Health Rex College Volunteer Program gives college students the opportunity to contribute to the community while exploring a career in the medical environment. The program provides students with practical experience while developing good work habits in a professional healthcare atmosphere. College students who are actively enrolled or taking courses at a college or university may apply to the program.

College volunteer assignments include areas such as surgical units, patient care/nursing units, cancer center departments, radiology, physical therapy/OT/rehab, patient transport, and more. Duties may include interacting with patients, rounding on patient rooms, assisting in discharges, restocking supplies, and much more! Students whose parents work at UNC Health Rex will be assigned to separate areas to avoid placing parents in a supervisory role.

Our college student volunteers are onboarded in the same manner as our adult volunteers. However, college student volunteers are only accepted twice per year:

1. During the academic school year (fall and spring semester academic year program) with applications accepted in June/July prior to the start of the school year. The academic year college volunteer program begins in late August and runs through April/May the following year. Students must commit to volunteering both the fall and spring semester apart from holidays and school breaks. Please note that our UNC Health Rex College Volunteer Program runs on NC State University’s academic year calendar.
2. Summer volunteer program with applications accepted in March. The summer college volunteer program begins in late May and runs through August. Students in our summer program must commit to at least 10 weeks of service.

Applications are typically open for a 1-to-2-week period and dates are subject to change. Please check our site periodically around application times for updates.

Academic year students must volunteer at least 75 hours to be eligible for a recommendation letter. If students volunteer less than 75 hours, the college volunteer manager will only verify service hours. Summer students must volunteer at least 40 hours of service for a recommendation letter. Recommendation letters are given at the program manager’s discretion.

College Volunteer Program Requirements (Please read thoroughly)

• Students must be actively enrolled or taking courses at a college/university in either an undergraduate or graduate program on a full-time or part-time basis.
• Students will be interviewed by the college volunteer program manager before they are accepted into the program. Interviews will be extended after applications are submitted. Please be patient.
• Students are required to volunteer at least once per week for a four-hour shift on their assigned day/time in their designated volunteer department. Students are put on a set schedule that aligns with their submitted availability.
• Morning shifts run from 7am-11am, 8am-12pm, 9am-1pm and afternoon shifts run from 12pm-4pm or 1pm-5pm - dependent upon the area the volunteer is assigned. Evening shifts are available typically on a 4pm-8pm or 5pm-9pm basis.
• During the school year (fall and spring semester academic year program), students must be willing to commit to both semesters of volunteer service to be considered/accepted.
• During the summer program, students must be willing to volunteer for at least 10 weeks (program is normally around 11 to 12 weeks – allowing for 1 to 2 absences).
• ALL students are required to complete a health assessment and be screened for: Tuberculosis (TB), Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR), Varicella (Chickenpox), Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap), and Influenza (seasonal) - students are required to have the annual flu vaccine during flu season. In addition, Covid-19 vaccinations are not currently required. Students must have all of these required vaccines/screenings before entering the program. This will need to be completed independently, unless stated otherwise in the program instruction.
• Students are required to have their complete vaccination records and other required items before the interview. Vaccine records can be found at a primary care doctor or university/college student health.
• Students are required to submit two references (on the application form) from adults who are familiar with their work ethic and character. The person completing the reference form must be 21 years or older and cannot be a legal guardian or relative. A survey will be sent to the applicant’s references via email after the application is received.
• Students are required to complete an online orientation and be trained in their job-specific area on their first day of service. A link for the online orientation/compliance training will be emailed after the applicant is accepted into the program.
• Criminal background checks will be conducted for all applicants.
• Students must adhere to all UNC Health Rex policies and procedures, including dress code and COVID-19 precautions.
• The deadline for the application will be strictly adhered to. Late applications will not be accepted.
• Applying to the program does not guarantee you a volunteer position.
• Student volunteers are required to volunteer on a consistent basis. Student volunteers are allowed 2 unexcused absences before potentially being dismissed from the program. Excused absences are determined by the program manager and must not be excessive.
• The college volunteer program will operate on NC State University’s Academic Calendar.