Community Service
Higher Education Council of Berks County
 

Recruiting Student Volunteers

The Community Service Office of the Higher Education Council of Berks County helps you reach students in several ways:

  • Volunteer Fairs: Each campus holds a Volunteer Fair, usually in the fall, in conjunction with the United Way Volunteer Center (email: judytoy@uwberks.org).  Organizations are asked to pre-register and tables are set up on each campus.  The Volunteer Fairs are advertised around campus.  These fairs are a great way to recruit interested students.

  • "Volunteer Opportunities" is a publication that comes out several times each semester/term and is posted throughout each campus, and sent to clubs and organizations.  Call 610-796-8389, fax 610-796-8381, karen.evans@alvernia.edu, or write to Karen Evans, Higher Education Council, c/o Alvernia College, 400 St Bernardine St, Reading, PA 19607, with your information, at least 6 weeks prior to the event.

  • "What's Up This Month" is a calendar published on this web site.  Using the address choices above, send your volunteer requests at least 6 weeks in advance so that we can publish information about your needs.

  • Volunteer Binders are located at each campus in the Volunteer Centers.  Students can browse through the binders to find information for volunteer placements.  This information is also located on the database through the web site.

Strategies on the attraction and retention of student volunteers:

  • Volunteer Orientation: Group Orientations soon after signing up volunteers are a great way to education potential volunteers about your organization and get them plugged in right away.  Announcing the date and time of your group orientation as you sign people up gives students a very clear sense of how to get in touch with you again.

  • Table Displays and Organization Information at the Volunteer Fairs: Brochures, pictures, informational sheets, or anything else that gives students a sense of what your organization does will help to draw interested volunteers to you.  Information that students can take with them is particularly handy.

  • Immediate Contact: Students only have about 15 weeks in the semester (less in a term) and they settle into a routine fairly quickly.  The sooner you get in touch with students, the better response you are likely to get.

  • Sending messages and reminder notices to students: If a student provides you with their email address, this will probably be the easiest and most efficient way to remind the student of an upcoming meeting/event.  Like all busy people, students need reminding of upcoming obligations, either through email or regular voice mail.

  • Scheduling a room for on-campus events: If you have a group of students from one campus that are interested in your organization, think about having an orientation, training, or recognition event on the campus.  Call the Higher Education Office to inquire about room reservations.

 

 

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