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SERV: Service, Education, Resource & Volunteer


About SERV

Service in Mu Phi Epsilon plays an important role in the life of every member of Mu Phi Epsilon. Much of what we stand for is “service through music.” The acronym of SERV can provide important guidelines and examples of what can comprise this service. Each member should keep track of how many hours of service they earn and report it at muphiepsilon.org. In general, an activity can count for SERV hours if you do not receive payment, if the chapter does not collect any funds for the activity, and if the activity is not part of a class credit or degree requirement. You are encouraged to involve music in your service wherever possible. However, hours CAN count for SERV when music in not the focus of the service activity. Travel DOES count, to and from an event. Within reason, hours spent in ‘preparation’, including rehearsals, DO count, if the activity is done as a group. Practicing music individually does NOT count-you accomplish this on your own, for yourself. For example: Time spent setting up a stage for a community performance night before the final performance, can count. But time spent baking cookies, at home alone, for said event, does not. SERV hours are now reported as total hours and not in categories as in the past. The following information is just to be used as examples of what can be used for SERV hours. If you have any questions please contact: [email protected] or [email protected].

SERV HOURS can be reported anytime and as many times as needed up until the June 1, 2024 deadline. It is suggested that you report SERV hours after you do a SERV project or once a month to keep better track of your hours.

SERVICE To your community or school with no personal or chapter remuneration or fulfillment of class credit or degree requirements, such as:
Accompanying, church musician, or director, musical group participation or performance, music management, ushering, free labor for a civic musical group, fundraising for the international fraternity/foundation/another non-profit or philanthropic organization.

EDUCATION Musical instruction with no personal or chapter remuneration or fulfillment of class credit or degree requirements, such as:
Private or group lessons, theory/music history/appreciation classes or sessions, conducting, directing musical theater production, instrument demonstrations (petting zoos).

RESOURCE Activities where “special populations” specifically benefit, with no personal or chapter remuneration or fulfillment of class credit or degree requirements, such as:
Projects serving disadvantaged persons, geriatric, hospitals, nursing homes, special education, inner city children, homeless, assisted living, homebound, abused, minority or handicapped, women’s shelters, LGBTQ+populations, etc. Volunteer musical group activities such as concerts, sing-a-longs, group involvement activities with rhythm instruments, caroling, music therapy, sharing taped or recorded music for these special populations.

VOLUNTEER The above gives you some good guidelines for tallying your service hours and planning your special events. Remember that the ‘heart” of service is when you give of yourself to others but receive no tangible benefit. Tally your hours with integrity, use YOUR best judgement and SERV! YOU are the key to SERV success!

 

How to Report SERV Hours

In the effort to make reporting your SERV hours easier we are starting a new on-line system. Everyone should report their OWN hours. If you do not have access to a computer please contact the collegiate advisor, alumni advisor, or executive office of Mu Phi Epsilon for help. It only takes a few minutes, and we feel it will be easier for you to report your SERV hours thought out the year instead of waiting until May and trying to remember your hours from the entire year.

Directions to reporting hours:

  1. On the fraternity's website, go to Member Resources, go to Collegiate Forms & Manuals (or, Alumni Forms & Manuals), scroll down to “Report SERV Hours”
  2. The form will auto fill, with your name, address, chapter (if applicable) and email.
  3. You will need to fill out the following:
    1. Description of Projects / Activities This information is for the collegiate and alumni advisors to give us an idea of the project/activities that our members are doing. This is optional, but we encourage you to provide this information.
    2. Total Hours for the date range reported. Note: Hours may include travel to and from the SERV activity.
Report SERV Hours