College Volunteers

Students are a vital part of the Wake County community and UNC Health Rex takes seriously its commitment to introducing them to a variety of health-related careers. Many college students donate their time each year to UNC Health Rex.

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. Our college volunteer program offers students hands-on experience while working in a professional healthcare environment.

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/spring semester academic year program) w/ 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 w/ applications accepted in March/April. 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.

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:

• Students must be enrolled in a university/college 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.
• 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/spring semester academic year program), students must be willing to commit to both semesters of volunteer service.
• 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).
• Students are required to complete the online orientation guidelines and be trained in their job-specific area on their first day of service.
• Students must adhere to all UNC Health Rex policies and procedures, including dress code and COVID-19 precautions.
• ALL Students are required to complete a health assessment through Employee Health, which screens 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 required; however, students must submit Covid-19 documentation if they have received the vaccine. The Employee Health Assessment will be conducted at the interview with the college volunteer manager and Employee Health Services team.
• STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR COMPLETE VACCINATION RECORDS BEFORE THE INTERVIEW. These records can be found at a primary care doctor or university/college.
• Students are required to submit two references (on the application form) from adults who are familiar with your work ethic and character. The person completing the reference form must be 21 years or older and cannot be a legal guardian or relative.
• 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.