Founding Documents
Mailed 5/5/88
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A special task force of a dozen University of Illinois students and staff members will study ways to channel student volunteer efforts into community service.
"This group's mission includes a thorough review of the efforts of students to serve the local community and of community needs that could, potentially, be met by our students," said Stanley Levy, vice chancellor for student affairs.
Serving on the task force are U. of I. students Emily Harris, Michael McGuire, Tom Mitchell, Michael O'Gorman, Kelle Reczek, and Lori Tecktiel,
The task force is chaired by Hank Walter, assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, and also includes Laura Diekhoff, assistant director of housing; Mark Johnson, director of University YMCA; Jan Lenz, assistant dean of students; Yukiko Llewellyn, assistant dean of students; and Tom Morgan, assistant to the dean of students.
The study was prompted by a gradual shift in student interest, which now leans toward "becoming involved," Levy said. Potential projects range from working in community centers, to helping with reading classes in elementary schools, to repairing the homes of the elderly and needy, he said.
Walter said the task force plans to complete its study and report its findings and recommendations by this fall.
Issues to Be Considered By Student Volunteerism Task Force
In no particular order:
- What is the appropriate role for the University in supporting student volunteerism (e.g. advisory, directive, etc.)
- Is it the University’s responsibility to motivate and recruit students for community service or should it respond to students interest?
- How much promotion and publicity of and about volunteerism should the University do?
- Should the University offer support to service organizations that it doesn’t offer to other student organizations?
- What kind of organizational structures should the University have to deal with student service organizations? A campus center? A staff coordinator? A specialist on public service opportunities in the Career Development & Placement Office? Others?
- What is the appropriate role of community agencies on campus? What is the appropriate relationship between the University, these agencies, and the student organizations? What mechanisms should be developed to achieve this relationship?
- What can students and student organizations do to promote and support volunteerism?
- Should the University provide leadership training specifically for student service organizations? If so, how (workshops, retreat, etc.)?
- What should be the role of incentives for community service work? (The issue of volunteerism vs. community service work supported by pay or credit).
- Should students support these programs (or the University’s efforts to foster them) through fee monies (e.g. annual SORF allocation)?
- What should the University do to help publicize student community service work?
- What type of programming should the University do to promote or support volunteerism? Forums? Speakers? A University-wide community service project?
Philosophy Statement
The often cited mission of the land grant university has three parts: teaching, research, and public service. This three part mission principally guides the allocation of faculty and administrative resources. There is no question that students are implicated in this mission. The issue is how actively students are integrated into the mission. Are students viewed as potential contributors to the mission of public service? Specifically, what administrative resources are currently dedicated to providing public service opportunities for students through community service projects? What resources should be dedicated to nurturing volunteer public service opportunities for students?
Volunteers play key roles in two aspects of social life: interest group activities and community service. The skills employed in both are similar, even if the motivations are somewhat different. Through both individuals gain self-esteem and learn cooperation, agenda setting and goal achievement. Through interest group activities and community service, cultural diversity is increased and community is enriched. Volunteer service, especially community service, is a positive means of contributing to responsible social change in a pluralistic, democratic society, It is a means of providing leadership, open to each and supportive of all.
The purpose of volunteerism is to more fully realize our full potential as individuals and as a community. Through volunteer efforts we contribute to an ongoing process of social change. The challenges, therefore, are to identify and prioritize change needs, to identify the skills required to satisfy these needs, and to mobilize the resources of the community to effect social change. Initial responsibility for this mobilization rests with the staff of volunteer service agencies and, in the case of the university, with student affairs staff.
Some Key Assumptions about Student Volunteerism
In our environment, the academic community, our work with volunteers has a dual function. In addition to concrete service, there is an educational component. We want to identify and communicate why volunteer service is a valuable part of the educational experience. Often this message will have to be
Brainstorming Priority List
Please prioritize each category and each item within each section.
Structures
- Centralized Office
- Volunteerism Council or Board of Students
- Green Dean
- Manual Explaining what Agencies Need
- Administrative Support (clerical)
- Volunteerism Placement Service
Curriculum
- Build in and Encourage Community Responsibility
- Intersession Programs
- Classes and or volunteering at C-U or Chicago
- Service Requirement to Graduate
- Questions on Teach Evaluation Forms
- Internship Opportunities
- Volunteerism Transcript- work/history
- Orientation for Work Study Candidates
- Pro-Active Course Guide
Registration/Orientation
- Data base on registration form
- Pre-enrollment program for incoming freshmen
- Placement office to encourage volunteerism
- Presentation during Freshmen Orientation
- Entire Orientation Card sent out to incoming students
Honors
- Volunteerism tablet or honorary
- Scholastic honors group with tutoring
- Incorporate volunteerism with honors program
Networking
- Programs through Chicago Campus
- Through the High Schools
- Through Residence Halls, Certified Housing, Fraternity/Sorority
- Alumni
- Outreach Programs
Public Relations
- Volunteerism Placement Day
- T.V., Radio, Print, Advertising
- Annual Program for National Volunteerism Week (Awareness and/or Appreciation)
Programs
- Speakers to encourage Volunteerism
- Service Board (Similar to Ride Board)(3)
- Intramural Connection
- Volunteerism Computer Bulletin Board (1)
- Displays during Orientation
- Quad Day section for Volunteerism Organizations (5)
- Annual State-wide Conference
- Special Fund for Volunteerism Service (3)
- Spring/Winter Break Programs (2)
- Interest Survey (1)
- Organization Registration Form (1)
- Tie in with “Take the Lead” Leadership Program (1)
Misc.
- Student Member of United Way Board
- Volunteerism Opportunities Catalog (1)
- Assessment Mechanism -- goals clearly defined (1)