Position Description:

University of Michigan-Dearborn
Engagement and Partnership Services Office
Michigan Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA position
November 2011-October 2012

The University of Michigan-Dearborn recognizes the importance of higher-education institutions engaging actively with their communities, and has a long tradition of this work. The University has now embarked on a new initiative that will strategically and substantially increase student, faculty, and staff engagement, resulting in greater community impact and enhanced student learning. In support of this Initiative, the University is establishing a new Engagement and Partnership Services Office to provide outreach, coordination, support, and capacity-building University-wide. The Michigan Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) serving at in this position, and two others, will form a cohort that is central to the launch and operation of the EPSO.

Responsibilities (Shared by all 3 VISTA cohort members)

• Forge mutually beneficial partnerships between service-learning faculty and community organizations seeking skilled volunteers
• Serve as a broker to seek out and establish curricular and co-curricular service-learning opportunities between the community Strategic Partners and the University faculty, staff, and students
• Contribute to creation of an EPSO website and a needs-and-opportunities database with up-to-date information for faculty, students, and community partners.
• Educate the community—both the University community and the larger regional one—about issues of poverty and its effects, and the role and impact of service-learning/engagement
• Enhance and support the work of the UM-Dearborn Community Involvement and Volunteerism Center [CIViC], such as its Days of Service, Alternative Spring Break, etc.
• Contribute to fundraising and other capacity-building efforts of EPSO in collaboration with community partners.

 

Activities

• Provide partnership support through communication, classroom and project assistance, documentation, and other tasks as necessary.
• Manage enhanced communication with University’s extensive list of community partners working in anti-poverty activities.
• Establish embedded relationship with at least one Strategic Partner community organization (onsite equivalent of at least one day per week)
• Conduct all opportunity-brokering activities such as needs assessment, curricular and co-curricular matching of needs, operationalizing and monitoring arrangements.
• Gathering, organizing, prioritizing, and articulating program/partnership information for key EPSO activities, such ads website creation and maintenance, evaluation, and PR/promotion.
• Collaborate with Student Affairs Office to create awareness events focused on community issues
• Meet regularly with other VISTA cohort members to share insights, opportunities, trouble-shooting, etc
• Participate in planning committees for campus-wide Days of Service
• Attend Office of Service-Learning staff meetings
• Other duties as assigned

Responsibilities and Activities Specific to this Position

Play a principal role in development of EPSO website. Assist the EPSO staff in enhancing and developing further the initial site that will be in place by November when this position begins. A candidate with strong digital technology skills and familiarity with Web design will lead the information-gathering that other VISTAs will be doing, organize and analyze that data for optimal usability on the web, and work with University IT staff and/or contractors to build the site. This VISTA will also act as the lead in maintaining the site throughout the year.

Supervisor

Mary Lynn Stevens, Director, Engagement and Partnership Services Office (for all non-CEP activity)

 

Benefits

• $11,232 annual living stipend
• Training and travel costs
• Option of $5350 education award or $1500 stipend upon completion of VISTA year of service
• Health benefits
• Federal student loan forbearance
• Campus parking pass
• Housing assistance up to $2,000
• University affiliation (discounts at local businesses, campus bookstore, and access to technology resources, campus fitness center)

To apply: Visit the Michigan Campus Compact VISTA application on the AmeriCorps.gov website, https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=42316