About the CTS Award Program

Program Mission

The Commitment to Service Award Program (CTS) encourages students to engage in community service further impacting their Brandeis experience while addressing community needs. Service will be used as a means to explore careers, apply course work, fulfill personal values, and develop meaningful relationships. The program will encourage students to track their volunteer hours, adding many benefits to the community and university, while offering an opportunity to celebrate our student’s commitment to social justice and service deepening the roots of their journeys beyond Brandeis. Students who reach different tiers of hours logged will receive a Commitment to Service medal to wear at graduation.

We encourage all Brandeis students to register for the program and to regularly track their hours even if they don't think they'll reach one of the awarded hour levels, as there are many benefits to students, as listed below.

All service hours submitted for this program must fall within the umbrella of the Brandeis University Mission and Diversity Statements. In particular hours must support the values of inclusivity, civility, diversity, respect and safety.

Awards

• Gold: 900 hours of service
• Silver: 600 hours of service
• Bronze: 300 hours of service

Students will be awarded their medals at the Celebration of Service event and are encouraged to wear their service medals during commencement ceremonies as well as indicate this distinctive honor on their resumes.

Why Should You Participate?

• Deepen your impact with a holistic service approach.

• Receive a Commitment to Service medal to wear at graduation.

• Denote this prestigious honor on your resume.

• Explore and develop leadership through intentional reflection and relationship building.

• Have your service hours formally documented for graduate school, jobs and internship applications.

• Help Brandeis achieve national honors and awards.

• Tracking hours aids in the receipt of grants and funding for future service opportunities.

• Make a local and global impact.

• Take pride in and celebrate your community organizing and impact.

• Benefit from special programs for all program participants.

• Formally commit to the social justice mission of Brandeis University.

• Have your name posted as recipient on the Department of Community Service website.

• Help support Brandeis University’s Mission and Diversity statements, in particular, Brandeis’ commitment to social justice.