First-year students, during their first semester at Eastern, serve for 8 hours as part of a required First-Year Seminar course.

In this course, titled INST 150: "Introduction to Faith, Reason and Justice," service hours are part of the content of the class, providing an opportunity for students to engage their communities in partnership with nonprofit organizations. Students are encouraged to continue serving as volunteers after their service hours are completed.

Students can complete their service hours in their local community over the summer or during the fall semester when service opportunities and transportation arrangements are coordinated by the Office of Faith & Practice at nonprofit organizations in the greater Philadelphia area.