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 and August 2018 - TBD)
- Legacy of Lowell (September 22, 2018 – Tentative)
- MLK Day of Service (January 12, 2019 - Tentative)
- Attendance at the following is strongly encouraged:
- Saturday Service Projects (8:30am-12:00pm on designated Saturdays)
- Service Celebration (March, 2019 - TBD)
- Dialogues, workshops and speakers series as scheduled.
Many of our positions are co-director positions, meaning you may work with 1-3 other student leaders.
Open Leadership Positions
Alternative Breaks Student Positions
The Alternative Break program supports active citizenship by offering transformative justice- and travel-based volunteer experiences over university breaks where students engage with service, education, and dialogue in a team setting in order to address social and environmental issues. If you have participated in a U of U Alternative Break trip, you are eligible to apply for student Site Leader and E-Board positions!
Spend a year planning an immersive volunteer experience for ten other students around an issue you are passionate about. Site Leaders are current U of U students that are paired with a Staff Partner to support them through the process as they learn skills such as conflict resolution, community development theory, inclusion practices, and explore how justice relates to volunteerism both locally and nationally.
Site Leader positions are available for weeklong Alternative Fall Break (AFB) and Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trips as well as Alternative Weekend Break (AWB) experiences.
Time Commitment: 5-8 hours a week
What we look for in our Site Leaders
- Positive, enthusiastic, and encouraging attitudes
- Mature, responsible, inclusive, passionate individuals
- Students whose commitments, class schedules, and work arrangements allow them to fully commit to the program and its requirements
2019-2020 Trips include
Alternative Weekend Breaks
- Environmental Stewardship: Moab, UT
- Refugee & Human Rights: Salt Lake City, UT
Alternative Fall Breaks
- Homelessness: Seattle, WA
- Identity and Environmental Exploration (First-Generation Trip): San Rafael Swell, UT
- Immigration: San Diego, CA
- Urban Environmentalism: Portland, OR
- Wildlife Habitat Conservation: Lakeview, MT
Alternative Spring Breaks
- Animal Advocacy & Rehabilitation: Kanab, UT
- Coastal Ecosystem Restoration: Arcata, CA
- Community Health: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- Defeminizing Poverty: Denver, CO
- HIV & AIDS: Hollywood, CA
- Homelessness: Seattle, WA
- Hunger & Food Justice: Seattle, WA
- Immigration, Health, and Poverty: San Diego, CA
- Marine Conservation: Santa Cruz, CA
- Queering Justice: San Francisco, CA
- Urban Environmentalism: Portland, OR
- Youth Empowerment: Las Vegas, NV
AB E-Board Specialist responsibilities are in addition to Site Leader responsibilities. Each Specialist also serves as a Site Leader with the AB Program.
Chair Elect Position Overview
(5-7 hrs per week in addition to SL duties)
The purpose of the Chair Elect role is to create cohesion across the AB leadership team (includes Site Leaders) and support the current AB Chair. This role requires completion of administrative tasks, strong peer mentorship, group training facilitation, and other duties as assigned.
*It is common practice for the Student Chair Elect to take on the AB Student Chair role the following year depending on a student’s graduation date. In other words, this role could be a two-year commitment with AB (but it does not have to be).
- Performance of site leader duties as described in SL application
- Full participation as a Site Leader in all retreats, trainings, meetings, and program requirements
- Provides ongoing administrative support to student Chair and AB Admin Team
- Attendance at summer Break Away conference (1 week)
- Foster the development of the Executive Board and board members (AB Specialists)
- Provides support and recognition of individual Site Leader efforts
- Promote and cultivate a peer atmosphere for Site Leaders, creating a strong community presence in the program which encourages peer mentoring, collaboration, inclusion, and team unity
- Participates in weekly AB Admin staff meetings (1 hr a week)
- Bennion Center Student Board Representation (2-5 hrs a week)
- Attend Bennion Center events as available and necessary
- Coordinate attendance of Site Leaders at Bennion Center events in collaboration with the student board
- Serves as the key representative of the AB program and Bennion Center at all times
- Serves on selection committee for ASB participants
- Enters post trip assessments and community partner surveys post Fall and Spring Break trips
- Reports directly to Alternative Breaks Coordinator
- Create and implement creative marketing and recruitment strategies with Executive Board
- Part of Staff Partner interviews if time allows
Recruitment Specialist Position Overview
(5-7 hrs per week in addition to SL duties)
The purpose of the Recruitment Specialist role is to provide ongoing invitations to participate or collaborate with the AB program and for the AB brand to be shared. This role requires organization of Site Leader tabling opportunities, classroom presentations, and utilizing university communications networks.
- Performance of site leader duties as described in SL application
- Full participation as a Site Leader in all retreats, trainings, meetings, and program requirements
- Coordinates with Chair, Executive Board, and Admin Team to carry out all recruitment initiatives, with delegation to the AB team, by submitting proposals, coordinating presentation opportunities for classrooms and student groups, organizing tabling supplies and opportunities, etc.
- Submit proposals and coordinate presentation opportunities for self, Executive Board,
and Site Leaders
Admin tracking of student VIF forms and student attendance at info sessions - Assist Chair and Chair Elect in cultivating and promoting a peer atmosphere for Site Leaders, creating a strong community presence in the program which encourages peer mentoring, collaboration, inclusion, and team unity
- Help prepare the logistics of Fall and Spring Weekend Retreats (planning, facilitation, food, prep materials, agendas, etc.)
- Participates in weekly AB E-Board meetings
- Other administrative duties as needed in support of programmatic aims
Marketing Specialist Position Overview
(5-7 hrs per week in addition to SL duties)
The purpose of the Marketing Specialist role is to increase awareness and visibility of the AB program brand. This role requires development of recruitment materials and managing the AB program’s social media presence.
- Performance of site leader duties as described in SL application
- Full participation as a Site Leader in all retreats, trainings, meetings, and program requirements
- Assists in the management of all social media for the program (AB Facebook page, serve as/and liaison for BC sites/Twitter/pages)
- Manage and update the AB Bulletin Board outside of the Bennion Center
- Assists AB Staff Coordinator with website communications and updates
- Create emails, flyers, and marketing material for the program
- Assist Chair and Chair Elect in cultivating and promoting a peer atmosphere for Site Leaders, creating a strong community presence in the program which encourages peer mentoring, collaboration, inclusion, and team unity
- Help prepare the logistics of Fall and Spring Weekend Retreats (planning, facilitation, food, prep materials, agendas, etc.)
- Participate in weekly E-Board Meeting
- Other administrative duties as needed in support of programmatic aims
Reorientation Specialist Position Overview
(5-7 hrs per week in addition to SL duties)
The purpose of the Reorientation Specialist role is to support the process of reorientation during pre-trip, on-trip, and post-trip transformation. This role requires collaboration and resource sharing between the AB team and community organizations to promote local active citizenship.
- Performance of site leader duties as described in SL application
- Full participation as a Site Leader in all retreats, trainings, meetings, and program requirements
- Get Site Leaders & Participants out to Legacy of Lowell, BC Events, and Saturday Service Projects
- Plan and coordinate Reorientation event with Eboard, Admin Team, guest speakers/presentors, and participants attending and create a post-reorientation newsletter
- Explore and share information about opportunities to keep AB community engaged in the local community, including creating a reorientation newsletter
- Assist Chair Elect in cultivating and promoting a peer atmosphere for site leaders, creating a strong community presence in the program which encourages peer mentoring, collaboration, inclusion and team unity
- Help prepare the logistics of Fall and Spring Weekend Retreats (planning, facilitation,
food, prep materials, agendas, etc.)
Participates in weekly AB E-Board meetings - Other administrative duties as needed in support of programmatic aims
Fundraising Specialist
(5-7 hrs per week in addition to SL duties)
The purpose of the Fundraising Specialist role is to direct fundraising initiatives on behalf of the Alternative Breaks program to ensure the short-term financial accessibility for all potential AB participants as well as the long-term fiscal sustainability of the program. This role requires initiative, vision planning, creativity, and collaboration with multiple stakeholders.
- Performance of site leader duties as described in SL application
- Full participation as a Site Leader in all retreats, trainings, meetings, and program requirements
- Explore programmatic options for on- and off-campus fundraising initiatives
- Involve the AB Leadership Team and participants in a minimum of one fundraising event per semester
- Host one or two AB Financial Information sessions for student participants alongside the Bennion Center Staff Advisor and the Student Chair
- Assist in the selection of ASB participants
- Enter Post-Trip Assessments and Community Partner Surveys upon the completion of AB trips
- Encourage Site Leaders to attend Legacy of Lowell, Saturday Service Projects, and other Bennion Center events
- Assist Chair and Chair Elect in cultivating and promoting a peer atmosphere for Site Leaders, creating a strong community presence in the program which encourages peer mentoring, collaboration, inclusion, and team unity
- Help prepare the logistics of Fall and Spring Weekend Retreats (planning, facilitation, food, prep materials, agendas, etc.)
- Other administrative duties as needed in support of programmatic aims
Please contact Justin Swanger or 801-587-9027 if you are interested in the Chair Elect or Specialist roles.
Comm Team Job Descriptions
2018
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 one hour mandatory weekly office hour on Friday mornings sometimes between 7 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
Graphic Designer
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. 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 7 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 or 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.
Videographer
The Bennion Center videographer will be responsible for capturing the Bennion Center’s history through video. This includes shooting all major service events (see below) and assisting in the development of videos for our community relations partners, our alumni, and our Bennion Center peers. This individual must be proficient in shooting and editing and be willing to take directions from the staff partner. Time commitment is roughly 3 hours per week. Requirements include:
- Proficient in video shooting and editing. (Camera supplied by Bennion Center).
- Shoot video at Legacy of Lowell, MLK Day of Service, Earth Day, Project Youth and Spring Celebration.
- Develop project specific short videos (1:30 – 2:00) to highlight the above events.
- Ability to monitor and maintain Bennion Center YouTube channel.
- Understanding and ability to use web-based video applications.
- Assist staff partner in producing alumni profiles for Bennion Center website, as well as well as other videos as strategically indicated.
- Meet weekly with staff partner to coordinate which Bennion Center events will be covered.
- Attend bi-weekly Comm team meetings.
- Establish and keep a weekly office hour. Track office hour and volunteer hours through the Intranet on Bennioncenter.org
- Table at least one hour per semester.
- Attend Legacy of Lowell and at least one other Saturday Service project of your choosing.
- Attend Comm Team leadership training twice each year.
- Attend new student leader orientation at the end of Spring semester or 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.