Piedmont Athens Regional College Volunteers
We are no longer accepting applications for Spring 2025.
Thank you for your interest in becoming a college volunteer with Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. Piedmont Athens Regional is proud to have over 300 students participate in our College Volunteer Program each semester. We have student volunteers from UGA, Athens Tech, UNG, as well as other colleges and universities. Majors vary and include pre-med, pre-nursing, education, business, and psychology. Student volunteers serve at least three hours per week, in one department, on a regular schedule, for approximately 10-13 weeks (depending on the semester).
Our Spring 2025 College Volunteer Program will begin on January 27, 2025, and will end on April 27, 2025. Volunteers are not required to be present during UGA breaks or holidays.
Participation in the program requires a program fee of $14, a background check through a specific vendor, proof of vaccinations, and TB testing. Volunteers are responsible for the cost of these. (Background checks are approximately $40 for those that have lived in GA their entire life. If you have lived in other states, the price may vary.)
The application process:
- If you are interested in volunteering, you will need to complete our online application during the week of November 11, 2024. You will need to write an essay (600-word max) on why you are interested in volunteering with us as part of the application.*
- Selected applicants will be contacted to set up an interview. Interviews will take place, virtually, November 25-27 and December 2-5. Interviews take about 15 minutes.
- Interviewees selected to participate in the program will be notified by close of business on December 9 and will need to indicate whether they plan to participate by December 13th.
- Accepted participants are encouraged to participate in one of our Next Steps Webex sessions that will be offered after December 13th.
*While using AI such as ChatGPT is not forbidden for applicants' essays, it is strongly discouraged. Essays written with AI tend to be exceptionally similar and will not make you stand out as an applicant.
Orientation will be offered twice; January 11th and January 14th. Orientation is in person and is required for all new volunteers. These are the only times that orientation will be offered.
We strongly recommend you read the FAQ below for information about our program.
For Continuing Student Volunteers
Current college student volunteers are encouraged to volunteer for the next semester. Current volunteers will receive a request for schedules and placement preference each semester. Only current college students follows can “renew” this way. If there has been a gap in your status, you will have to apply as a new volunteer.
College Student Volunteer Program FAQ
Who is allowed to volunteer in the student volunteer program at Piedmont Athens Regional?
Students who are enrolled at UGA, Athens Tech and other local universities, colleges, and technical schools may participate in our College Student Volunteer Program.
How many hours will I work as a student volunteer at Piedmont Athens Regional?
College student volunteers are placed during the first week of each semester. They volunteer 3-4 hours per week through the rest of the semester. Students are encouraged to continue working during breaks from school (such as winter holiday break, Spring Break, etc.) and to return for consecutive semesters of service. Piedmont Athens Regional does not set up one-time observations/visits for student volunteers. We also do not allow credit for volunteer hours toward court-related community service assignments.
Does volunteer count towards Experiential Learning credit at UGA?
Yes, you may use your hours for EL credit.
Can I work weekends or evenings after school/work?
Yes! Many of our college student volunteers work on evenings and weekends. When you apply for the program, you will submit your availability.
How and when do I apply to volunteer at Piedmont Athens Regional?
The College Volunteer application opens in March (for Summer), June (for Fall), and November (for Spring). The application will be open for approximately one week and will be on our website. Each new student volunteer selected to participate must pass a background check, complete an in person volunteer orientation session, and meet all health screening requirements before beginning work. Students who do not comply will be asked to return the following semester with completed documentation.
What are the health screening requirements?
All volunteers are required to provide proof of immunization for Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Varicella, COVID-19, and Influenza (during flu season). Volunteers are also required to complete two TB skin tests.
Where and when will I work as a student volunteer?
You will have an opportunity to read listings of "volunteer responsibilities" when you submit your availability. You will be provided with a listing of times and days volunteer assignments are available as well as department/unit descriptions. You will have the opportunity to select 5 departments/units that you prefer. While we do try to match you with a preferred department/unit, we may not be able to due to scheduling constraints.
What about parking?
The volunteer supervisor will provide parking options to you when you receive your placement.
Will I get a record of my hours worked to use with job or school applications in the future?
Each volunteer is expected to clock in and clock out for each shift worked. Volunteers who fail to clock in will not have a complete record of hours worked. The Volunteer Services Department will provide confirmation of hours served. You may request this at any time.
Will you write a recommendation letter for school, work, service organization, etc.?
Yes. If you would like a recommendation letter, please reach out to the Supervisor of Volunteer Services. Recommendations letter take up to one week to complete.
What if I want to return for a second semester of volunteer work?
Students may return to work for several semesters or even years. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Volunteer Services office of any schedule changes and if you wish to change volunteer assignments.
What other expectations do you have for college student volunteers at Piedmont Athens Regional?
The hospital desires punctual, dependable, committed individuals who can help patients, families, visitors, and staff in a variety of ways. All student volunteers are expected to dress professionally and follow any department-specific dress codes.