Leadership Positions
Additionally, the following is required:
- Attend a weekly office hour in the Bennion Center (front desk or programming), scheduled by you at the beginning of each semester.
- Submit monthly program hours logs.
- Represent the Bennion Center at University tabling events at least 2 hours each semester.
- Attendance at (exceptions will be made in extenuating only circumstances and should
be pre-approved by your Staff Partner when possible):
- Bennion Center Student Orientation (June 2, 2017 or August 18, 2017)
- Legacy of Lowell (September 30, 2017 – Tentative)
- MLK Day of Service (January 13, 2018)
- Attendance at the following is strongly encouraged:
- Bennion Center Service Social (August 30, 2017)
- Saturday Service Projects (8:30am-12:00pm on designated Saturdays)
- Service Celebration (March 29, 2017)
Many of our positions are co-director positions, meaning you may work with 1-3 other student leaders.
Open Leadership Positions
Communications Team
The Bennion Center Communications Team is responsible for promoting the activities and opportunities available through the Bennion Center. Our goal is to work together as a team and with our Bennion Center peers to share student stories across multiple platforms. These platforms include social media, photography and videography, graphic design, outreach and recognition. By doing so, we hope to positively influence action, change and learning within the Bennion Center, the University and the community at large. Our goals reflect the University of Utah’s mission to:
- Promote student success to transform lives.
- Develop and transfer knowledge.
- Engage community to improve health and quality of life.
- Ensure the long-term viability of the University.
As a Communications team, we identify and use best practices with a multi-disciplinary approach. Incorporating language and visual arts, journalism, public relations and marketing, we share with audiences large and small Lowell Bennion’s vision of making the world a better place.
Students applying for positions on the Communications team may have the option of receiving one credit hour of academic credit for their participation. This is credit would be awarded as an internship through the Career Services department. Regardless of whether or not they choose to make their participation an internship, all students selected to serve on the Comm Team will be expected to have a mandatory weekly office hour on Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Students may choose which one hour time frame they would like during that block. Please email JJ if you have questions or concerns at jennifer.c.jones@utah.edu
The Graphic Designer uses his/her talents in computer design to advance the messages of the Bennion Center. This individual works with all staff partners, not only the Comm team, in order to meet advertising needs via print and electronic media. Working with the staff partner, the graphic design coordinator also directs the work of the graphic design assistant. Average time commitment each week is three hours. Position requirements include:
- Must be proficient in PhotoShop and Illustrator (or InDesign).
- Digitally design and produce posters, brochures, annual reports, student board cards and flyers.
- Must dependably meet deadlines with work that is portfolio-worthy.
- Establish an office hour between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. each Friday throughout the academic year to work with the Comm team and meet with staff partner to review requests, establish deadlines, and report progress.
- Track personal office hours through the Intranet on Bennioncenter.org.
- Table at least one hour each semester.
- Attend Legacy of Lowell. Also attend at least one other Saturday Service Project of your choosing.
- Participate in Comm Team leadership training twice each year.
- Attend new student leader orientation at the end of Spring semester and the beginning of Fall semester to help orient Bennion Center peer leaders and to receive training for your position.
- Assist in advertising, public relations and recruitment as requested by the staff partner or other members of the Comm team.
Student-Directed Program Directors
Student Program Directors manage ongoing volunteer programs with local community organizations and public schools. Student program directors work with a student coordinator and Bennion Center staff to best serve the needs of community partners and volunteers. It is strongly recommended that perspective program directors volunteer with or visit the community partner prior to applying for this position. Student program directors are expected to serve 5-10 hours a week, depending on the program. Some programs may also require service during the summer months (see application for details).
In addition to the general duties of a Bennion Center student leader, Student Program Directors are expected to:
- Volunteer regularly within the respective program (see Volunteer Interest Form for a description of each program).
- Recruit, orient, train and retain volunteers as necessary for your program.
- Respond to prospective Volunteer Interest Forms (VIFs) within 24-48 hours.
- Maintain regular communication with your respective staff partner, community partner, and issue area coordinator.
- Complete the Original Community Partner Agreement meeting prior to the beginning of fall semester, the Check-in CPA during the fall semester and the Wrap-Up CPA before spring break.
- Maintain the VIF tracking spreadsheet, a database of all prospective, current and past volunteers, including contact information and university ID.
- Keep track of monthly hours served within your program by Bennion Center volunteers.
- Attend monthly meetings facilitated by your Issue Area Coordinator.
- Perform the duties required by the specific program (see specific program description for details).
- Be a Bennion Center Ambassador: build an in-depth understanding of the programs and opportunities at the Bennion Center
- Complete Motor Pool certification (or identify yourself as a non-driver)
- Complete Youth Protection requirements (applies to certain programs only)
Commitments
Weekly
- 1 Office Hour
- Program Commitment
Monthly
- Issue Area Meeting
- Hours Logs/Reflections
Semester
- Attend Legacy of Lowell Day of Service (Fall) & MLK Day of Service (Spring)
- 1 Leadership Workshop (1 per semester)
- 2 hours tabling (2 per semester)
1. English Skills Learning Center
Meet adults from all over the world. Primary responsibilities include ESL instruction for diverse populations (low-income, refugees, immigrants, asylee). Volunteers will teach their own classes, with curriculum provided, to help change students' lives by facilitating English language acquisition.
- Attend a monthly 12-hour training split over 3 four-hour sessions.
- Before recruiting volunteers, PD will provide service as a tutor (duration of time determined by Community Partner)
- After serving as a tutor, PD will be responsible for recruiting and retaining volunteers that can attend a monthly 12-hour training split over 3 four-hour sessions.
1. Social Justice Gardens - Jackson (Co-Director)
- Collaborate with community members in planting, harvesting, and maintaining the garden.
- Organize volunteer work and garden events.
- Plan and attend garden/community meetings.
- Teach students from kindergarten- 6th grade about food, gardening and science (summer school program).
- Grant writing and funding requests.
- Work with families and students to create long term sustainability for the school gardens.
- Applicants with either Spanish speaking skills or gardening experience would be a great asset for this program.
2. Social Justice Gardens - Mt. View (2 Co-Directors)
- Collaborate with CLC, school, and community members in signing up people for the garden boxes, planting, harvesting, and maintaining the garden
- Create a garden calendar at the beginning of each semester with input from CLC in figuring out what time is best for families and community members for events
- During the winter (off-garden season) plan and organize weekly events/classes at the CLC for parents and students about food, gardening, nutrition, and science etc.
- Organize garden potlucks and other events to build community
- Attend weekly parent meetings for Mt. View & Glendale
- During the late spring to early fall (gardening season), hold weekly open gardening hours when anyone can come and help in the garden, learn about the garden, or volunteer for the garden in another capacity
- Fill out reports for WCG about garden season
- Teach students weekly from kindergarten-6th grade about food, gardening, nutrition, and science etc. for the summer school program
- Work with families, students, and school administration to create long term sustainability for the garden
* Applicants with Spanish speaking skills and/or gardening experience would be a great asset for this program