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Bennion Center Student Leader positions for the 2024-2025 academic-year!

2024-2025 Applications are now open!

 

Applications Close: Friday, March 15th 2024

Interviews begin: Monday, March 18th 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

This is the Bennion Center's longest running and largest student program. There are currently 48 local community partner organizations we work with each year. As a student-led program, the Partner Liaison positions work directly with a specific partner to meet the community-identified needs of the organization while also recruiting and training student volunteers in support of their efforts. Don't worry, the majority of U of U student volunteer recruitment is achieved through the Volunteer Interest Form on our website.

All CPP's are organized into the following Issue Areas:

  • Advocacy
  • Arts & Recreation
  • Education
  • Health & Wellness
  • Mentorship
  • Sustainability & Food Justice

There are both on and off campus options to consider. The majority of them are located off campus and will require travel to volunteer on-site. The Bennion Center, located inside the Union building (suite 101), will also be used for meetings with your student volunteers, Issue Area Coordinators, etc.

All students at the U are eligible to apply. There are no requirements other than being enrolled at the U during your term. The benefit of being a part of the Bennion Center community is the diverse mix of students from all majors, years, backgrounds, and identities. Prior volunteer experience or engagement with the Bennion Center is not required to apply.

Applications close on Friday, March 15th. Interviews will then be scheduled and position offers will be made through the end of March. There is a 2024-2025 student leader orientation scheduled on Friday, May 17th from 10 am to 2 pm. If you aren't able to attend on that day, there will be additional opportunities to complete your orientation closer to the start of fall semester. The active term for 2024-2025 Bennion Center Student Leaders is approximately May 2024 through April 2025.

While there are an endless number of external factors and internal motivations as to why students choose to engage with us, they are all interconnected and ultimately require your commitment to be successful. Generally speaking, the top 3 reasons are as follows and are in no particular order.

  • Want to get more involved on-campus and meet new people
  • Have a history of volunteering or an unmet desire to get started
  • Looking to strengthen their resume with leadership experience and volunteer hours

Review the available positions by issue area and community partner below. Then click on the application link and select up to 3 preferences in order of priority. While there are a total of 48 community partners, current Partner Liaison's in good standing have been allowed to return to their positions for the next academic-year. Below you'll find all of the positions that you can apply for.

Partner Liaisons - Community Partner Programs

Apply by: Friday, March 15th 2024!

Partner Liaisons (PLs) work collaboratively to connect volunteers from the U of U to nonprofits, schools, and government organizations to support the Bennion Center’s mission of inspiring and mobilizing people to strengthen communities. PLs lead efforts in volunteer recruitment, onboarding, retention, and recognition for the program/partner with which they are paired. Depending on the community partner, PLs may also support the planning and implementation of programming.  

PLs will gain valuable real-world skills including volunteer management, organization, communication, professional relationship building, facilitation, and how to equitably engage with the community.  

This is an unpaid, volunteer leadership position. If this is a barrier to your participation, we offer a limited number of need-based Helping Hand scholarships that range from $50 to $500 in the fall & spring.

Other than noted responsibilities (weekly office hour, Issue Area meetings, workshops) the responsibilities to the Bennion Center can be completed remotely. Most volunteer work with the community partner will take place in person, check the position specific description to see any required availability. 

  • Must be a degree-seeking University of Utah student. Position is open to undergraduate and graduate students.  
  • We strongly recommend prospective PLs volunteer with or visit the community partner prior to applying.  
  • Support the Bennion Center’s values of Hope, Action, Collaboration, and Integrity, and our commitment to anti-racism.   

  • Volunteer regularly within the respective program (see Volunteer Interest Form for a description of each program).  
  • Recruit, orient, train, and retain volunteers as necessary to meet community partner needs.  
  • Respond to prospective Volunteer Interest Forms (VIFs) within 24-48 hours.  
  • Maintain regular communication with your staff partner, community partner, and Issue Area Coordinator.  
  • Complete three Community Partner Agreement meetings by the established deadlines. 
  • Maintain a VIF tracking spreadsheet (a database of all prospective, current, and past volunteers, including contact information and university ID). 
  • Track and submit monthly hours served within your program by Bennion Center volunteers. 
  • Attend monthly meetings facilitated by the 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. 
  • Some programs may have additional requirements including background checks, motor pool certification, or youth protection.  

PLs are expected to serve 3-5 hours a week, depending on the program. Many programs also require engagement during the summer months (see application for details) although remote engagement might be possible depending on the program.  

Weekly  

  • 1 office hour held at Bennion Center, duties may include: 
  • Complete programmatic responsibilities 
  • Meet with prospective volunteers 
  • Program volunteer commitment (with Community Partner)  

Monthly  

  • Issue Area Meeting  
  • Hours Logs/Reflections  

Semester  

  • Attend Legacy of Lowell Saturday Service Project (Fall) & MLK Saturday Service Project (Spring) 
  • 1 Leadership Workshop (per semester) 
  • 2 hours outreach (per semester)  

Yearly  

  • Student Leader Orientation (Dates TBD)   
  • 3 Community Partner Agreement meetings

Partner Liaison positions available by Issue Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arts for Youth 

  

Canyon Hospice Musical Therapy

  

Primary Children's Hospital 

  

Running Forward

  

ACT Prep

  

The Children's Center Utah 

  

ESL Guadalupe

  

Hser Ner Moo

  

Palmer Court Kid's Book Club 

  

Friends for Sight

  

Maliheh Free Clinic

  

Utah AIDS Foundation 

  

Utah Naloxone 

  

VA Nursing Home 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to apply - Partner Liason positions

Questions or need assistance?

Please email Sabita Bastakoti, Community Partner Programs Manager

 

All of our Community Partner Programs by Issue Area

Advocacy: provide direct engagement at several Title I public schools and non-profit organizations around Salt Lake. Projects support advocacy work that elevates the voices of historically marginalized communities and animals.

  • American Red Cross
  • Best Friends Animal Society
  • Catholic Community Services
  • Health Access Project
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • International Rescue Committee
  • Ronald McDonald House
  • Take Care Utah
  • Youth Resource Center

Arts & Recreation: programs support direct engagement opportunities like coaching sports, planning events, concert ushering, and working with children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This programming area aims to engage student volunteers from all over campus, including kinesiology, performing arts, and parks, recreation & tourism majors.

  • Arts for Youth (Historic Scott School)
  • Canyon Hospice Musical Therapy
  • Elevate Theater - Tanner Dance
  • Primary Children's Hospital
  • Running Forward
  • Special Olympics Utah U.L.E. (University Leadership & Engagement)
  • Special Olympics Utah Team
  • Utah Symphony | Utah Opera

Education: programs provide direct service at several Title I public schools, local libraries, and non-profit organizations around Salt Lake. Projects support education initiatives at all levels of instruction (children and adults).

  • ACT Prep at Day-Riverside Library
  • ACT Prep at Marmalade Branch Library
  • Bud Bailey Youth Tutoring
  • Children's Center Mentoring
  • ESL Guadalupe
  • Hser Ner Moo
  • Palmer Court Kids' Book Club
  • Road Home Kids' Book Club
  • YWCA

Health & Wellness: programs include a variety of both hospital and non-hospital programs. Volunteers can work with kids, adults, and the elderly in an assortment of capacities such as mentoring, providing free vision screenings, and providing assistance and companionship to patients.

  • Friends for Sight
  • Hospice and U
  • Maliheh Free Clinic
  • Rides for Wellness
  • Utah AIDS Foundation
  • Utah Naloxone
  • VA Nursing Home

Mentorship: programs work with a variety of populations, including young people, the elderly, and low-income children and adults. Volunteers serve as mentors, group leaders, and role models.

  • Best Buddies
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
  • Girl Scouts Outreach
  • Grandfamilies
  • Road Home Teens' Night Out
  • The Sharing Place

Sustainability & Food Justice: programs are diverse and include everything from recovering food to avoid waste to weeding carrots in a school garden. This programming area aims to entice student volunteers from all over campus, including biology, nutrition, and environmental studies majors. Volunteers can assist in a community garden, promote recycling around campus, or deliver meals to the elderly.

  • Edible Campus Gardens
  • Feed U Pantry
  • Food Recovery Network
  • Green Urban Lunchbox
  • Meals on Wheels
  • Social Justice Gardens - Mountain View
Last Updated: 2/26/24