Kinard-Community Service Center, University of Alabama

Activities:
Met with Mary Lowery, Assistant Director of Career Education/Development
Met with Chad Clark, Director, Student Engagement and Judicial Officer
Met with Tiffany Goodin, Program Manager for Student Services
Met with Sara Hartley, Assistant to the Vice President for Communication & Director, First year Experience & Parent Services
Researched Carnival Games
Worked Orientations
Communicated with Non-profits for RA day of service

Reflection:

This week has been a blur!  I met with so many amazing individuals, who all had great advice to give.  I had the opportunity to learn from programs that I have never had an opportunity to see before.  Such as Judicial Affairs and First-Year Experience.  I actually got to sit with some students on the judicial panel while they handle parking ticket cases.  It has been a very interesting week.  I am learning that there are a lot of differences between my past institutions and UA.  The student body is here is very different.  This institution has a very very large out of state population, which is very different than Mississippi State, Southern Miss, or ICC.  These students also have a very unique socioeconomic background.  It is interesting to see those differences play out here at the Community Service Center.  Most students are very interested in giving back, while others could care less.  I have found through the orientation process that volunteerism really speaks more to parents than to students at the moment.  Although, our volunteer opportunities are very student driven and give them an opportunity to have fun, give back, and meet new people.  Students, especially freshmen, don't see the value in it just yet.  It is interesting to have to sell our programs and get students excited about being apart of them. 

This week I will be having a hand in planning an RA day of service for the resident staff here on campus.  I am working with several other office staff to contact non-profits in Tuscaloosa and coordinate volunteer times.  Believe it or not, it is harder than you might think to get these organizations on board.  You would think, and so did I, that organizations would jump at having free service, but most are very picky about times and the number of students that can participate.  It has been a challenge to find work for the number of RAs we hope to serve.  I am learning that collaboration in the community and at an institution is crucial to best serve students, and collaboration is not always easy. 

The Community Service Center Logo!