System Configuration: System Settings

The System Settings section of your System Configuration is where most of the basic settings for your console are located. This includes enabling different features. See below for more details about each of the fields in this section.

• Time Zone: The time zone in which your organization is located. This setting changes what your default Time Zone is for new events, although that can be set independently, and it also determines in what time zone system log entries are recorded.
• Locale Setting: The location in which your organization operates. This determines some of the required formatting for fields such as phone number and address. If you operate within multiple locations, you can set this option to “Other” for less strict requirements.
• Date Format: The date format that your organization prefers.
• Track People in CERVIS as: Depending on your organization, you can designate what you call the people who are in your CERVIS database. For some organizations, they might designate them to be called a Volunteer, Member, or User. This function allows you to customize the database to fit your needs. Please use the singular form of the word.
• Track Attribute #1-3 in CERVIS as: Attributes are an additional form of capturing volunteer information but are more focused on things volunteers have or are able to contribute. Examples would include: Skills, Equipment, Availability, etc.
  • Use the 'S:' field to specify the singular form and the 'P:' field for the plural form of whatever you are tracking.
• Track Primary Phone in CERVIS as: Specify what the primary phone will be labeled as in your CERVIS console. Examples would include: Home, Work, Mobile, Cell, etc.
  • Use the ‘L:’ field to specify the long form of the name and the ‘S:’ field for the short version.
• Track Alternate Phone in CERVIS as: Specify what the alternate phone will be labeled as in your CERVIS console. Examples would include: Home, Work, Mobile, Cell, etc.
  • Use the ‘L:’ field to specify the long form of the name and the ‘S:’ field for the short version.
• Auto Assign Follow-up for new Volunteers: Select whether or not you would like to automatically tag each new volunteer for a follow-up contact. The individual being assigned the follow-up action will see the icon next to the “View / Manage Volunteer Follow-up” link glowing green the next time they log in to CERVIS, notifying them of any assigned follow-ups. For more information about the Follow-up Management menu, see the knowledge base article linked HERE.
• Assign Follow-up for new Volunteers to: If you turn on the auto follow-up for new volunteers, this is where you define to whom you would like to assign the follow-up. Note that this user must have Leadership Team or Administrator level access to your system.
• Send Auto E-mail Notification of Follow-up Assignment: Select whether or not you would like to have the system automatically send an email to the individual being assigned the follow-up action in addition to seeing the follow-up icon glow green when they log in to the system.
• Auto Assign Checklist items for new Volunteers created via QuickReg: Select whether or not automatically assigned checklist items should be assigned to volunteers who create their profile via QuickReg. Automatically assigned Checklist Items will always be assigned to other profiles, when they are created, regardless of this setting.
• Interest Category Contact Person Notification Method: Select the method that the Interest Category Person will be notified by when a volunteer indicates interest in a particular category.
  • If you select “Assign CERVIS Follow-up”, when a volunteer indicates interest in a certain category, the individual being assigned the follow-up action will see the icon next to the “View / Manage Volunteer Follow-up” link glowing green the next time they log in to CERVIS. 
  • If you select “Send Email”, they will receive an automated email whenever a volunteer selects that they are interested in their category.
• Allow Event and Group Leader(s) to Create New Opportunities: Select whether or not you would like to allow individuals with Event Leader or Group Leader access to the system to create new opportunities. 
  • Selecting “Yes” would allow Event and Group Leaders to create opportunities and make them open to the public.
  • Selecting “Yes - Hidden Only” would allow Event and Group Leaders to create hidden opportunities that wouldn’t be displayed online publicly until an administrator chose to do so. The hidden opportunities could still be shared with volunteers via email or the “Event Registration Code” link.
• Allow Event Organizer(s) to Override Registration Restrictions: If enabled, this setting allows Event Organizers to register volunteers for opportunities that they're an organizer for even if the volunteer doesn’t meet that opportunities' requirements.
• Allow Event Leader(s) to Create New Volunteer Profiles: Select if you would like to allow individuals with Event Leader access to be able to create new Volunteer profiles in the system.
• Allow Walk-in Registration via Sign-in Console: Select whether or not you would like to allow individuals to register for an opportunity via the Sign-in Console, without having registered beforehand.
  • This will allow volunteers to create a profile through the Sign-in Console as well.
  • Selecting “Yes - w/ Reservation Codes” enables volunteers to use Reservation Codes when registering for events via the Sign-in Console. This is the only way Reservation Codes can be used on the day of the event.
• Allow Registration in Overlapping Events/Slots: Select whether or not you would like to allow Volunteers to register for overlapping shifts. Administrators, Leadership Team, and Event Leaders will always be able to register volunteers for overlapping shifts regardless of this setting. However, they will be notified of the conflict prior to completing the registration, if set to “Yes”.
• Track/Manage Volunteer Events: Events are one-time or recurring opportunities with dates and times associated with them. For more information about the different types of events and projects, please see the knowledge base article linked HERE. Select whether or not you would like to enable these within CERVIS and to what level. 
  • If you select “Disabled” then Events cannot be used.
  • If you select “Enabled – Privileged Login Only” then only those with Administrator or Leadership Team access can create, view and register volunteers for Events. Volunteers will not be able to see or register for these on their own.
  • If you select “Enabled – All Logins” then everyone can view, apply for, or register for events. You have the option to make each event hidden or publicly visible.
• Track/Manage Volunteer Service Projects: Service Projects are long-term opportunities that aren’t associated with a particular date and time, but instead are available during a specific date range. This allows activity to be recorded whenever it is served. For more information about Events and Projects, please see the knowledge base article linked HERE.  Select whether or not you would like to enable these within CERVIS and to what level.
  • If you select “Disabled” then Service Projects cannot be used.
  • If you select “Enabled – Privileged Login Only” then only those with Administrator or Leadership Team access can create, view and log volunteer hours for Service Projects. Volunteers will not be able to see or apply for these on their own.
  • If you select “Enabled – All Logins” then everyone can view, apply or log volunteer hours for Service Projects. You have the option to make each Service Project hidden or publicly visible.
• Track Volunteer Service Hours: Select whether or not you would like to track the number of hours volunteered in CERVIS. Note: You must track volunteer service hours in order to generate any reports that lists service hours for a specific person, group, interest category, opportunity, or time period.
• Display Service Hours in Event Listing: Select whether or not you'd like to list each event's specific service hours for the volunteers to see when viewing the events online.
• Display Number of Registered Volunteers in Event Listing: Select whether or not you’d like to display the number of volunteers that are registered out of how many are needed and how many slots are still available for your events. Note: Volunteers will always be able to view the number of volunteers needed regardless.
• Display Service Projects on Event Listing Page (Pre-login): Select whether or not you would like to display both Service Projects and Events together on the Event Listing Page that is visible to the public.
• Display Service Projects on Event Registration Page (Post-login): Select whether or not you would like to display both Service Projects and Events together on the registration page that is displayed after the volunteer logs in.