Guidelines

Hebrew University encourages and actively promotes social engagement, working to increase the involvement and influence of students and faculty on Israeli society. Social Engagement for Academic Credit offers diverse opportunities for social action with a wide range of target populations, serving as a gateway to the continued civic and social involvement of students. 

• For the 2024-2025 academic year, undergraduate students can earn 2 academic credits for completing at least 40 hours of service with an approved organization (visit this portal for a list of organizations),  subject to prior coordination and agreement with the organization regarding hours and conditions. 

• The Social Engagement Course (74142) can be taken once during a degree program, replacing 2 required credits from the Cornerstone Program (Avnei Pina), in any Cornerstone subject of the student’s choice. 

• Registration for the Social Engagement Course (74142) is not processed through the standard Rishum-Net registration system. Instead, after completing the required hours, the Cornerstone Program office will add the course retroactively (see details below). 

• Students must verify that they indeed have remaining Cornerstone credit requirements prior to starting the social engagement program. 

• Tuition: Fees apply for the 2-credit course (74142) as with any other course. In addition, cancellation of Cornerstone or Social Engagement courses may not be made retroactively. 

• Grading: The course is graded on an Active Participation basis (.ה.פ) and is not factored into the calculation of a student’s final GPA. 

• Credit: Students must choose between 2 credits for social engagement OR 2 credits for military reserve service – not both. This credit is granted once per degree. 

• Exception for 2023-2024: Students who previously earned 2 credits for military reserve service may add an additional 2 credits for either military service or social engagement. 

• All required hours must be completed within a single organization. Accrued hours may not be combined from multiple organizations. 

• All required hours must be completed within one academic year (October 2024 – September 2025). Hours may not be accumulated across different academic years. 

• There are no double benefits – students may not receive both a scholarship and academic credit for the same volunteer hours. 

• Students who are required to take Cornerstone courses (Avnei Pina) in two different fields must complete at least one course in each field in addition to their social engagement hours (as long as more than 2 credits are required in one or both fields). 

Eligible Volunteering Period:

 

• Credit is granted only for completing at least 40 volunteer hours, excluding training and travel time, performed between October 2024 and September 2025. 

• The hours can be accumulated throughout the year or during a shorter period, depending on the needs of the organizations. 

Course Registration Periods for 74142: 

• For volunteer hours completed by the end of January 2025, the course will be added in March 2025. 

• For volunteer hours completed by the end of July 2025, the course will be added in August 2025. 

• For volunteer hours completed by the end of September 2025, the course will be added at the end of Fall Semester 2025-2026. 

 
Important: The 2024-2025 program concludes at the end of September 2025. As per the program guidelines, hours cannot be carried over to the next academic year (2025-2026). Students who do not complete their required hours by the end of September 2025 will not be able to use those same hours in the following academic year (2025-2026). 

 

 

Adding New Organizations to the Program: 

 

Only university-approved organizations and NGOs may participate in the program. 
Organizations interested in joining for the next academic year must contact the program coordinator, Adir Danino, at: volunteering@savion.huji.ac.il. If the organization meets the criteria, it must submit an official application (provided by the program coordinator) in March 2025. The approval committee will convene to review applications during the summer months. The organization is responsible for initiating contact and completing the approval process. 

Eligibility Criteria for Organizations: 

Organizations wishing to participate in the program must meet the following requirements: 

• Non-profit organization (NPO) or NGO (as opposed to a for-profit business). 

• Legally registered organization. 

• Non-partisan organization – must not be affiliated with or engage in parliamentary or legislative matters. 

• Core mission and activities centered on social engagement. 

• Demonstrated ability to effectively onboard students, oversee their activity, communicate consistently, and provide a high-quality, structured, and well-organized volunteer experience (as determined by the social engagement program). 

• Willing and able to supervise student activities and offer adequate training and mentorship. 

• Able to accept a minimum of 5 student volunteers. 

• Guarantee at least 40 practical volunteer hours per student, excluding training, supervision, and travel time. 

Organizations will be informed of their acceptance or rejection close to the start of the academic year. 

Organizations accepted into the program must: 

• Attend a training session in Jerusalem at the Hebrew University campus at the start of the academic year. 

• Participate in the Social engagement for Academic Credit Fair at the Mount Scopus campus (or other campuses, as needed). 

• Manage student registration, tracking, and reporting of volunteer hours through a designated online portal. 

• Maintain regular contact with the program coordinator and adhere to reporting deadlines. 

 

For a list of currently approved organizations, click here (not intended for students).Bottom of Form 

 

How is the Course Registered?

 

To secure registration in the Social Engagement Program, follow these steps: 

1. Choose Your Preferred Organization: 

• Visit the Organization Portal. 

• Select the organization you wish to volunteer with. 

• Your details will then be sent to the organization, and they will contact you directly. 

2. Confirm Participation: 

• Once you finalize your volunteer agreement, the organization will approve your participation in the system and record your completed hours at three reporting periods: 

• End of February 2025 

• End of July 2025 

• End of September 2025 

3. Course Registration: 

• Students who complete at least 40 hours of approved activity will receive an email from the Social Engagement Unit with a confirmation form including a questionnaire and requested approval for course registration. 

• After completing the form, the course will be added to your personal academic record by the Cornerstone Courses (Avnei Pina) Department. 

 

How to Get Started?

1. Visit the Organization Portal here. 

2. Contact the organizations you are interested in and coordinate your participation. 

3. Confirm Your Status: 

• Once the student and the organization agree on participation, the organization must confirm by marking the student as "active" in the system. 

• The organization must also record the number of completed volunteer hours. 

• It is crucial to ensure that the organization reports your active status in the system so that you are included in the Social Engagement Unit’s records. 

FAQs – Social Engagement for Academic Credit 

 

Q: Can I receive academic credit for volunteering with an organization that is not approved by the university? 
A: No. Academic credit is only granted for activities in organizations officially approved by the university. 

Q: Can new organizations be added to the approved list? 
A: Not during the academic year. Organizations may contact the Social Engagement Unit at volunteering@savion.huji.ac.il to inquire about joining the program for the following academic year. 

Q: Is there a fee for receiving academic credit for social engagement? 
A: Yes. Enrolling in course 74142 requires payment of tuition equivalent to 2 academic credits, just like any other course. 

Q: Can I receive credit for my volunteer work if I submit documentation after July 30, 2025? 
A: No. July 30, 2025, is the final deadline for submitting proof of completed activity to receive credit for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Q: Can I split my volunteer hours between multiple organizations? 
A: No. All required hours must be completed within a single approved organization. 

Q: Who should I contact with questions or issues? 
A: Feel free to contact Adir Danino, Social Engagement for Academic Credit Program Coordinator, with any questions you may have: volunteering@savion.huji.ac.il. 

Q: Can I receive academic credit for both military reserve duty and social engagement? 
A: In general, students pursuing a bachelor's degree can receive 2 credits a single time for either military reserve duty or social engagement. However, for the 2024-2025 academic year, students who previously received 2 credits for military reserve duty can also earn an additional 2 credits for either military reserve duty or social engagement. 

Q: To whom do I report my military reserve duty in order to earn 2 academic credits? 
A: Military reserve duty credit is managed solely by the Secretariat of the faculty with which the student is affiliated. The Social Engagement Unit deals exclusively with credit for social engagement volunteer work. 

Q: If I receive a scholarship for volunteering with an approved organization, can I also receive academic credit for it? 
A: No. You cannot receive both a scholarship and academic credit for the same volunteer activity. However, you may check with the organization to see if it's possible to reduce the scholarship amount (equivalent to 40 hours of volunteer work) in exchange for academic credit. Alternatively, you may increase your total volunteer hours by an additional 40 hours to qualify for separate academic credit. 

 

For further details, contact: volunteering@savion.huji.ac.il.