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!

AB Site Leader Position

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 Executive Board Positions

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
• Recruitment Specialist
• Marketing Specialist
• Reorientation Specialist
• Fundraising Specialist

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
• Co-facilitate Reorientation
• 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

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

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

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

Please contact Justin Swanger at justin.swanger@utah.edu or (801) 587-9027 if you are interested in the Chair Elect or Specialist roles.

Bennion Center Scholars Leadership Team Positions

Members of the Scholar Leadership Team (SLT) support Bennion Center Scholars at the University of Utah within the Bennion Center. The objective of a SLT member is to act as a part of a support network for current and potential scholars and to work closely with the Community Engaged Learning Coordinator in administrative tasks and program development.

General Requirements for all Scholar Leadership Team members are:

• Be a current Bennion Center Scholar and hold a good standing in meeting program requirements.
• Attend and participate in the Transition Meeting (time/date TBD, week of April 15th or 22nd)
• Actively engage in regularly scheduled Scholars Leadership Team meetings (usually every other week) and complete tasks between meetings. Hold weekly office hour during the academic year.
• Help recruit new scholars through info sessions, word of mouth, socials, etc.
• Mentor and support other BC Scholars in fulfilling program requirements.
• Attend Legacy of Lowell Day of Service (September), Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (January), Scholars Conference (first Saturday of November) and other Scholars Events.
• Be aware of and communicate opportunities related to community engagement (potential workshops, community partners, service projects, etc.) to students and the Community Engaged Learning Coordinator.
• Execute other tasks/assignments according to the needs of the program.

Lead Coordinator

The Lead Coordinator is responsible for providing a programmatic overview within the Scholars Program and Scholars Leadership Team. The Lead Coordinator fosters an inclusive and innovative program culture and role models strategic leadership through collaboration with the program’s Staff Coordinator. This role requires maturity, programmatic vision, administrative management, and the facilitation of group development. The responsibilities of the Lead Coordinator include the following:

• Work closely with Staff Coordinator to develop the strategic plan for the Program. Track progress towards Program goals and support SLT members as they work towards the overall Program goals.
• Assist in the selection of SLT members. Assist in the planning and facilitation of the Transition Meeting.
• Student Board Representative: Serve as liaison between the Student Board, Scholars Advisory Committee and the Scholar Leadership Team. Attend Student Board (weekly), Bennion Center Advisory Board (quarterly), and Bennion Center Scholar Advisory Committee (monthly) meetings. Attend Student Board meetings over the summer months. Each representative will be assigned (or will self-select) a chair/co-chair position for a Student Board Project. All Student Board members will be expected to support these projects/events.
• Attend weekly meetings with the program’s Staff Coordinator to address ongoing program needs.
•  Coordinate and manage facilitation of Scholar Leadership Team meetings.
• Foster the development of the Scholars Leadership Team and its members.
• Meet regularly with each SLT member to ensure program is moving forward.
• Promote and foster a peer atmosphere among SLTs, creating a strong community presence in the program which encourages peer mentorship, collaboration, inclusion, and team unity.
• Provide strong representation of and advocacy for the Scholars Program and Community Engaged Learning.
• Fulfill other administrative duties as needed to support programmatic aims.

Must have had been a scholar for at least 1 year prior to start of service and preferably have been on the SLT for at least one year.

 

Legacy of Lowell Student Co-Chairs

3 Open Positions

The Legacy of Lowell Student Chairs are responsible for leading and organizing the Bennion Center’s largest Saturday Service Project. They will partner with organizations across the Salt Lake Valley to provide community engagement projects.  Through this position, the student chairs will learn, among other leadership skills, how to lead students and community members, how to initiate and foster connections between community partners, and how to implement a large-scale event.

Date of Legacy of Lowell: September 2019 (final date TBD).

Time commitment: 5-10 hours a week, with increased time in the summer and fall semesters.

Program Responsibilities

• Work alongside Student Programs Coordinator.
• Keep regular communication with Legacy of Lowell Co-Chairs and Student Programs Coordinator, including during the summer.
• Assist with identifying community partners to participate in event.
• Identify and select Bennion Center student leaders to serve as site leaders for on-site and off-site projects.
• Hold volunteer orientation for site leaders.
• Assist Student Programs Coordinator with project descriptions and purchasing supplies.
• Work with the Bennion Center Communication Team on PR and marketing for Legacy of Lowell.
• Assist with recruiting day-of volunteers.
• Create reflection activity to be used at the end of each project.
• Create impact sheet to record data for projects.
• Organize debrief following the event.
• Maintain commitment to Bennion Center after Legacy of Lowell, from March 2018-April 2019.

Bennion Center Responsibilities

• Be available to assist with all Saturday Service Projects (4 others) for the 2019-2020 year.
• Serve at the Bennion Center front desk for 1 hour a week.
• Submit monthly hours and complete assessments determined by the staff partner.
• Complete 2 hours of tabling each semester.
• Attend Bennion Center Student Leader Orientation during Summer 2019 (dates TBD).
• Attend at least 1 additional Bennion Center event each semester, including but not limited to: Issues and Action Luncheon, Bennion-Hinckley Forum, or Student-Directed Programs Leadership Workshop.

If you have any questions, please contact Eric Nhem at eric.nhem@utah.edu or 801-585-1508.

Issue Area Coordinators

Overview

Coordinators mentor and support student Program Directors within a Bennion Center Issue Area (Arts & Recreation, Education &Advocacy, Health &Ability, International Service, Social Justice, or Sustainability & Food Justice) to create quality experiences for volunteers and meaningful community impact. Additionally, the Coordinator works with his/her/their respective staff partner to support the requests of Community Partners.

A Coordinator's time commitment averages 5-10 hours per week. The position is expected to be held from March 2019 - April 2020 including the summer months.

2018-2019 IAC Openings: Arts & Recreation,  Education & Advocacy, Health & Ability, International Service, Social Justice, Sustainability & Food Justice

Job Duties

In addition to the general duties of a Bennion Center student leader, Issue Area Coordinators are expected to:

Administrative

• Attend weekly meetings with your staff partner.
• Attend weekly Issue Area meetings with staff partners and fellow coordinators.
• Communicate regularly with Program Directors regarding current deadlines, priorities, training opportunities, etc.
• Periodically check-in with student Program Directors on one-on-one meetings.
• Manage and utilize budgets.
• Review community partner applications for selection as relevant.
• Regularly recognize and nominate program directors/programs for Bennion Center kudos.
• Hold a weekly office hour.
• Submit monthly hour logs.

Programmatic

• Mentor and guide student Program Directors to manage successful programs and develop into effective leaders. This includes, but is not limited to, assisting with Volunteer Interest Forms (VIF), VIF and hours tracking, e-mail correspondence, calendaring, training, meeting facilitation, conflict resolution, volunteer management, ensuring accountability, goal setting and fostering collaboration.
• Participate in Community Partner Agreement meetings within your issue area (3 meetings/year per program).
• Regularly recognize and nominate program directors/programs for monthly Bennion Center awards.
• Support Bennion Center outreach efforts including participating in University tabling events at least four hours/year (2 hours a semester).
• Participate in the Program Director selection process for each program within your issue area, in collaboration with the respective staff partner, during the months of March & April 2018.
• Participate in and support the student leadership transition process during spring semester.
• Participate in Legacy of Lowell (Fall Semester) and MLK (Spring Semester) Saturday Service Projects.

Training

• Assist with transition and onboarding of Program Directors.
  • Coordinate and facilitate “Guide to Getting Started” with each student Program Directors within your issue area.
• Plan and co-facilitate training/leadership workshops throughout the year (1 per semester).
• Plan and facilitate monthly meetings with student Program Directors.

Utah Reads Site Team Leader Position

Job Description

Under the oversight of the Utah Reads Coordinator, Utah Reads Site Team Leaders are responsible for ensuring the overall quality of the tutoring program at one elementary school or community agency. The Site Team Leader provides the on-going support necessary for tutors to fulfill the mission and objectives of the Utah Reads program. This includes working with site administration to ensure effective tutoring strategies are in place. Students applying for this position need to be qualified to receive work-study funding from the financial aid department. Preference given to students with experience with Utah Reads or Next Steps training.

If you have questions, please contact Asma Hassan, 801-585-9101, asma.hassan@utah.edu.