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[deleted1027026]

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[DNAJB6]

Can you track down the old coordinator and have confirmation sent to the new coordinator?

 

[candbgirl]

Have you worked in the same unit/department the whole time? If so maybe the supervisor of that section could verify your hours for the Volunteer Dept. I wonder why they didn’t just give you a new badge.

 

[dienekes88]

Any advice on where to go from here is appreciated.

So I volunteered at a hospital pre-pandemic for two semesters accruing over 100 volunteer hours. The hospital has a way of recording the hours by volunteers signing into the computer with a unique ID and then clocking out to record the exact time you were in the building. A few weeks into my first semester of volunteering, my ID stopped working. I let the volunteer coordinator know, and she said she would let me know when she figures out the problem. Weeks go by and I check in again, and she tells me to sign in on a sheet of paper. The next semester, there is a new volunteer coordinator. When I go to check on how many hours I have on record, she tells me I have just 12 hours, even though at this point I had like over 100. She said that she was unaware of any such paper trail that had my volunteer hours logged.

So, I guess my question is, I know volunteer hours sometimes get checked. If I was rounding up 90 something hours to 100 that would be one thing. 12 hours of volunteering is all they got down for me, even though I volunteered over 100 hours. Do I just cut my losses and move on?

If you can't find the paper trail, and you can't track down the old coordinator, then you are forced to cut your losses. Move on and start accruing again; unfortunately, this just means you have to put in a little extra work.

 

[NOLZAOINK]

It’s a lack of responsibility from the former coordinator. Show the math to the new coordinator. You had been there for 2 semesters. I assume you went there every week but for around how many hours each? A total of 12 hours is just not a likely number. Gather proofs of attendance from other volunteers and people whom you had helped, as many as possible.

 

[NOLZAOINK]

Yep I volunteered 4 hours per week and since a semester lasts 13 weeks, that's 52 hours per semester, totaling 104 after two semesters. All they got down for me is... 12. Just 12 hours.

The problem with other people vouching for me is that I was sent to various departments across the hospital all over the place so I never got to form a close connection with any of the hospital staff. And since covid, I haven't been back to that hospital in nearly a year. Doubt anyone even remembers who I am.

You never know. If you remember anyone, then it could be just as likely that the other person remembers you. Or even go to the security camera office and implore in light of your situation.

 

[deleted555445]

i would just go ahead and put your hours down as if these had all been properly recorded. if you can locate emails showing that you were showing up every week (maybe an email saying you couldn't make it one week, which implies that you usually go), that will help if this comes up in the future. also save any emails related to your card not working. consider sending a detailed email to your coordinator now letting her know of your side of the story, so it doesn't look like you're making it up on the spot in the future. if there's a discrepancy and you get called in by school that is suspicious, just tell them exactly what happened. a difference of 80 hours isn't huge, i doubt any school would rescind your acceptance because a volunteer job didn't log hours properly.

 

[deleted555445]

I should have kept a digital trail of this, but honestly most of my conversations with the coordinator were in person. I think I have like 1 email from her that she actually responded, but I don't think what was said would really help my case.

I think being accused of lying about 80 hours of volunteer work would look really bad, and at this point I don't even want to put these hours on my record.

I disagree that this would look bad, I think you would get the benefit of the doubt if the rest of your app was solid. I can't imagine anyone thinking volunteer services has the best logistics for tracking hours. But that's just my opinion.

 

[dienekes88]

I should have kept a digital trail of this, but honestly most of my conversations with the coordinator were in person. I think I have like 1 email from her that she actually responded, but I don't think what was said would really help my case.

I think being accused of lying about 80 hours of volunteer work would look really bad, and at this point I don't even want to put these hours on my record.

If its not easily verifiable, then you don't want the hassle.

 

[LizzyM]

100 hours over one academic year is too much to throw away. List it. List a friend who also volunteered there as the contact. In the scheme of things, it is small potatoes but it is a long-term volunteer experience that shouldn't be tossed aside because the hospital was too disorganized to keep track of service hours.

 

[DNAJB6]

I've tried, no dice

Darn. If she was receiving pay, there is someone in the building that will know her name and maybe where she went. I'd then try Linkedin and Facebook once you have her name.

 

[LizzyM]

This does not apply here but I am reminded of it when people get crazy about documenting hours:

Soup-Kitchen Volunteers Hate College-Application-Padding Brat

SEATTLE—Volunteers at the Pike Street Salvation Army have grown to hate college-application padder Justin Malveaux, 17, sources reported Monday.

www.theonion.com

 

[DNAJB6]

This does not apply here but I am reminded of it when people get crazy about documenting hours:

Soup-Kitchen Volunteers Hate College-Application-Padding Brat

SEATTLE—Volunteers at the Pike Street Salvation Army have grown to hate college-application padder Justin Malveaux, 17, sources reported Monday.

www.theonion.com

It's why I am opposed to schools (medical or otherwise) mandating volunteer hours. Studies suggest that forced volunteerism actually makes people less likely to help, and many of those that do so are not doing so for altruism.