What is this?
The Volunteer Opportunity Bank is designed to help willing alumni and friends find volunteer opportunities that provide service back to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
How do I use the bank?
Simply peruse the opportunities listed. Once you find an opportunity that suits your interests, talents and time availability, contact the individual(s) listed for more information or to volunteer.
What kind of commitment must I make?
The time commitment for each opportunity will vary.
Can you help me find volunteers for my initiative?
For more information about getting an opportunity posted in the bank, contact Tessa Alber or Shelley Zaborowski. All opportunities must provide a service to a UNL department or affiliate.
Current Opportunities
- International Affairs IRS VITA Program
- Peter Kiewit Institute Student Mentoring Program
- Nebraska Center for Materials & Nanoscience
- Nebraska 4-H Youth Development
- UNL Dept. of Psychology
- Chapter Volunteers
- College of Law Shadow Program
- Great Plains Art Museum Visitor Services
- Postcards of Pride
- Huskers for Higher Ed
- Durham School Alumni Outreach
Peter Kiewit Institute Student Mentoring Program
Program Summary: The Student Mentoring Program (SMP) is designed to stimulate the interest of secondary school students in engineering, architecture, and their related sciences. Students learn from a mentor in a professional, rather than academic, environment. Mentors use their training to advise the students on: team work, sustainable design, presentation skills and use of graphic materials, model development, cost estimating, and technical writing. Click here for the SMP Web page.
Volunteer Criteria: Anyone in the field of architecture, engineering, or the related sciences; must be able to visit schools in the Omaha, Neb., area.
Job Description: Mentors may work alone or with an assistant mentor to guide a team of students in preparing a "preliminary" engineering report for the SMP Competition that takes place at the end of the program. Each team is composed of the mentor(s), a teacher and, on average, about 10 students from either a high school or a middle school in the Omaha area. The schools organize the teams which may function within the school curriculum or as extracurricular clubs.
The mentor meets with the team regularly to help identify a project, provide direction in accomplishing the project goals, demonstrate how a professional would develop a solution for the project, and guide the students in preparing a report and presenting the project to a panel of judges at the competition.
Timeframe: The program occurs annually and runs during the school year from about October to April. Each mentor meets with the school team on a weekly basis for approximately 30 weeks during this time for a total of 30 hours. The mentor may earn up to 30 Professional Development Hours (PDH). The use of two mentors per team helps assure one of the mentors will be able to attend the team meetings each week.
For more information contact: the Program Administrator by email or by phone at 402-554-2098, or click here to sign up.
International Affairs IRS VITA Program
Program Summary: International Affairs is recruiting volunteers for the IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program for the spring semester. The program offers free tax preparation assistance to UNL international students and scholars.
Volunteer Criteria: All alumni, students and friends; you do not have to have a math or statistics background.
Job Description: All volunteers are required to attend the tax training session where each volunteer will receive an official IRS VITA Certificate. Then, volunteers will use this training to provide free tax preparation assistance to international students at weekly VITA sessions. You do not have to attend every VITA session or be there for the entire session length; please sign up according to your availability. We appreciate your help!
Timeframe: The required training session is on Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 2 to 5pm at the International Affairs office. VITA sessions will be held on Tuesday afternoons from 1 to 7pm from March 2 to April 13 at the Nebraska Union on UNL's city campus in either the Georgian Suite or Colonial Room.
For more information contact Amber or click here to sign up.
Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience (NCMN) Internships
Program Summary: Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience (NCMN) Internships enable physics, chemistry and engineering students to work with companies in an effort to facilitate transfer of materials and nanoscience research between Nebraska higher education and state industries.
Volunteer Criteria: Employers in related fields that are UNL Alumni
Job Description: Employers volunteer to provide employment for students in their businesses. NCMN will recommend upper level undergraduate or graduate students who have demonstrated strong abilities that would contribute toward a business’ increased performance using materials or nanoscience research and academic information. Students are expected to complete work that provides the business with positive results in products and/or processes.
Timeframe: Dates, total time and salary commitment are up to the employer and could include internships for the academic year and/or summer in Lincoln or other business locations.
For more information or if you have questions, please contact the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience at tjanovec3@unl.edu or (402) 472-2716. If you are interested in being a part of NCMN Internships, please click here to sign up.
Nebraska 4-H Youth Development
Program Summary: The University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension is seeking volunteers for a variety of 4-H related programs. 4-H is an organization dedicated to developing youth through hands-on learning experiences and positive relationships with adults. 4-H members participate through 4-H clubs, after-school programs, school projects, special interest groups, camps, and more. There are local 4-H programs in all 93 Nebraska counties and in every state. Click here for the Nebraska State 4-H Office Web page or click here for the local UNL County Extension Offices Web page.
Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends aged 19 and older and living in Nebraska who have a commitment to supporting and developing youth; also seeking teens with leadership skills. You do not have to be 4-H alumnus.
“Job” Description: Many opportunities are available here on the UNL campus and in all areas of the state of Nebraska. Some common roles for volunteers include:
- 4-H Club Leader – works with a group of youth in a club format, usually as a team with other volunteers
- 4-H Project Volunteer – provides education to youth in an area of interest of the volunteer including: Leadership and Citizenship; Communications and Expressive Arts; Science Engineering and Technology; Healthy Lifestyles; Family and Consumer Sciences; Environment; Plant Sciences; and Animal Sciences. Opportunities could be ongoing, periodic, or one-time only.
- Educational event/program support – involves planning, facilitating, or supporting educational activities such as workshops, camps or day camps, county fairs, contests, the State Fair, after school programs, etc.
- Leadership Volunteer – serves on local or state planning committees, 4-H Councils, or other leadership teams
- Other unique opportunities are available annually or seasonally in each county 4-H program and at the State 4-H Office.
Timeframe: Ongoing, periodic, and everything in between
For more information email Doug Swanson, call him at 402-472-1762 or click here to sign up.
Participant Volunteer Network at the UNL Psychology Department
Program Summary: The Participant Volunteer Network (PVN) includes people who have agreed to place their names on a confidential contact list for possible participation in research projects by students or professors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Click here for the Web page. 
Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends aged 60 and older; must live in Lincoln or the surrounding areas.
"Job" Description: Once your name has been added to the PVN contact list, you will be contacted to participate in research projects. The duties asked will change depending on the study that has recruited you. For example a researcher may contact you about completing short tasks or answering questions on a survey. The studies will usually take less than an hour. Each time you are contacted, you will receive information about a current research opportunity. Then, you can decide if you would like to participate. There are no obligations to participate in any particular study.
Timeframe: Ongoing; research studies are conducted year round.
For more information contact: Lindsey Wylie or click here to sign up.
Volunteer With An Alumni Chapter Team or Start An Alumni Chapter
Program Summary: The alumni chapter program seeks to lead large numbers of alumni and friends to feel closely connected and engaged to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and to each other through the coordinated efforts of the alumni association and local volunteer leaders in the best interests of the university.
Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends; must be a current member of the Nebraska Alumni Association or willing to join
Job Description: Chapter volunteer leaders (“coordinators” and “associate coordinators”) provide dedicated leadership , which is the first requirement for a successful alumni chapter.
Specific volunteer job responsibilities include:
- Promote the university within the community and actively promote association membership.
- Participate in coordination of one or more activities and programs such as football watch sites, picnics, scholarships and career networking.
- Assist with communications and/or reporting (example: Web site coordinator).
In summary, each chapter volunteer is serving as an ambassador, liaison, recruiter, donor and leader.
Timeframe: Ongoing
For more information contact Bob Stelter.
University of Nebraska College of Law Spring Break Shadow Program
Program Summary: The University of Nebraska College of Law Spring Break Shadow Program enables law students to shadow attorneys and experience the law firsthand. Previous shadows have involved attorneys working in private practice, government, the court system, legal services, banking, insurance and other businesses. March of 2010 will mark the fifth year of this popular program. Both students and employers have had overwhelmingly good things to say about their experiences. One student participant even said, “I think I learned more practical information in one day than half a year of law school…” 
Volunteer Criteria: UNL Alumni with law degrees; need not be a UNL College of Law graduate
“Job” Description: Volunteers are asked to conduct business as usual and let the student(s) observe and possibly participate in their routine. The total time commitment is up to the volunteer, but it is typical to commit either a half day or a full day to one or more students. A few examples of what could take place during the job shadow include guiding students around the office, explaining the day-to-day workings of your office, letting them accompany you to court, or inviting them to sit in on a meeting, mediation, deposition or the like. Students are prepared to sign confidentiality agreements prior to their shadow experience, if needed.
Timeline: This year, the program will run from Monday, March 15 to Friday, March 19, 2010. For more information or if you have questions, please contact the College of Law Career Services Office at lawcareer@unl.edu or (402) 472-5130.
If you know you are interested in being a part of the Spring Break Shadow program, please click here to sign up.
Great Plains Art Museum Visitor Services
Program Summary: Great Plains Art Museum, a program within the Center for Great Plains Studies, has a mission to collect, preserve, research and interpret the art and literature of the Great Plains region and to foster study and enhance appreciation, through changing exhibits and public programs, of the history and creative spirit of the Great Plains of North America. The museum is seeking volunteers to assist with Visitor Services. Click here for the Web page.
Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends near the Lincoln area
“Job” Description: Visitor Services personnel provide friendly assistance to all patrons while performing general security procedures and sales of Great Plains-related publications and artwork. Depending on interest and ability, volunteers might execute projects as specified by the museum curator, such as filing, mailings, inventories, special events preparation, some art handling and installation assistance.
Timeframe: Public hours are generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:30 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed university holidays and between exhibitions. Installations generally take place Monday through Thursday at the beginning of the month. Volunteers may work a regularly scheduled weekday or remain on-call for special events or installations.
For more information email Amber Mohr at Great Plains Art Museum or click here to sign up.
Postcards of Pride
Program Summary: Postcards of Pride is a joint effort between the Nebraska Alumni Association and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Office of Admissions. The program is designed to allow alumni to assist with the recruiting process by reaching out to admitted students from their area. Click here for the Web page.
Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends 
“Job” Description: Volunteers are supplied a list of newly admitted students from their state along with the appropriate amount of NU postcards. Alumni are then asked to write a short message (a sample is provided) to their students and affix the proper postage to the postcard. Volunteers have the potential to be contacted more than once during the recruitment season (October - April) depending on the number of newly enrolled students from their area.
After sending the postcards, volunteers are asked to return a contact sheet so that we can keep track of all the students who have been sent a message. At the end of the summer, volunteers will get a list with the names of their students who have enrolled for fall classes.
Timeframe: Postcards are generally sent out in batches October through April. It is helpful for volunteers to complete and mail the postcards within 2 weeks of receipt.
For more information contact: Pam Penner at the Nebraska Alumni Association, or click here to sign up.
Huskers For Higher Education
Program Summary: Huskers for Higher Education is a legislative advocacy program designed to raise public awareness about the importance of higher education for 
the state’s future.
Click here for the Web page.
Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends living in Nebraska; must have an e-mail address.
“Job” Description: Volunteers are provided with clear, concise and result-oriented information about how legislative and policy incentives will impact -- positively or negatively -- the University of Nebraska. Your involvement will most likely take place during the legislative or election cycle, where you may be called upon to take action if you agree with the bill or issue.
For more information contact Pam Penner at the Nebraska Alumni Association or click here to sign up.
Durham School Alumni Outreach Council
Program Summary: The Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction is part of the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Based out of The Peter Kiewit Institute in Omaha (PKI), it is the only program in the nation that combines architectural engineering, construction engineering and construction management under one school, giving students a comprehensive building system education. Volunteers are being sought for the Alumni Outreach Council. 
Volunteer Criteria: Durham School alumni
Job Description: The Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction is sending a call to alumni for volunteers interested in joining the Alumni Outreach Council (AOC). AOC volunteers may visit local high schools in their area, telling their own success stories and enhancing name recognition for Nebraska Engineering. Volunteers may speak with prospective students, answer questions and generate further interest in architectural engineering, construction engineering and construction management in an effort to recruit the best and brightest students to UNL's Durham School. Other volunteer opportunities include delivering recruitment materials to high schools, hosting freshmen send-off events, and identifying and referring prospective students. Even an hour of your time can significantly impact a student's final choice to attend UNL and help us continue the tradition of academic opportunity, diversity and excellence.
Timeframe: Ongoing
For more information, email Rosemary Edzie or click here to sign up.
