Could you benefit from having a PSU student support your organization's mission on a weekly basis from October 2021 - May 2021 in a regular capacity, while also helping spread the word about the work you do, and encouraging other Portland State students to get involved? Are you passionate about supporting student leadership development, experiential education, and service-learning?

Then submit an application to become a host site for the 2021-2022 Student Leaders for Service program at PSU! We are looking for remote, hybrid, and/or in-person service sites for the coming year and are very flexible if you need to shift plans as the pandemic reality shifts and changes over time.

In order to express interest in serving as an SLS site for the upcoming 2021-22 academic year, please read through the description and complete the application on GivePulse. 

Priority applications due by next Friday, March 18th. We hope to set up a call with all applicants to discuss your interest after your application has been submitted. 

Timeline: Interested students will begin applying to the Student Leaders for Service program in Spring and will indicate their interest in a specific community partner site based on the role(s) available at your organization. We begin recommending potential candidates to you for an interview/conversation in late May/early June into summer.  Students typically begin in their role when PSU's Fall term begins in late September/early October, though some may choose to start earlier, and serve throughout the school year.

Student Leaders for Service (SLS) is a dynamic and multi-faceted program that strives to cultivate a body of engaged student service ambassadors who foster meaningful connections between the university community and the Portland metropolitan region. One essential component through which this relationship is created is through year-long student placements at local community organizations. Each year 15-20 Student Leaders for Service members each serve 4-6 hours per week from October through May/early June at a community organization with a focus area or mission relevant to the academic, career, and personal goals of the student. SLS members are eligible to receive a $500/term service leadership award as part of their involvement in the program.

The role of an SLS member is comprised of a few essential components.

• First, the SLS member will be involved with an area of identified work at the community partner site, much like an intern or ongoing volunteer, in order to assist the community partner in mission-driven work and to develop their own learning and skill-building. SLS roles can involve direct service, administrative support, and/or relate to advocacy efforts and should ideally give SLS members the opportunity to take ownership over an area of their work to promote deeper engagement and leadership development.

• Second - combining the knowledge gained about community partner needs with their participation in weekly service leadership classes at PSU, the SLS member can serve as a liaison back to the PSU community, helping to involve others at PSU in episodic volunteer opportunities, advocacy efforts, and/or education about your organization to further support your mission.

• In addition - As part of their service leadership class, SLS members are grouped in cohorts of 3-5 students by their host sites' primary issue area (e.g. food insecurity, education, community development, health & wellness, etc.) to work together one at least two collaborative service projects (one in winter and one in spring); some SLS host sites may also benefit from having the support of a full cohort helping to plan and lead a one-time service project to engage additional students in your organization.

The most successful partner sites are those which have both a need for a regular student to serve 4-6 hours per week within the organization for an academic year and the need to raise awareness and/or involve additional one-time volunteers for identified special projects or events. If your organization has need of both of these resources, SLS may be a great fit. Successful partner sites are also those which can provide a designated supervisor for their SLS member(s) who is able to support the student’s learning and engagement around the organization’s work, mission, and examples of leadership.

In order to propose an SLS partnership for the upcoming 2021-22 academic year, please visit the application on GivePulse (https://pdx.givepulse.com/event/223817) and then express your interest in serving as a host site by clicking on the "Register" button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. To complete the application process, you will need to answer a number of questions about your organization and the specific role(s) you would be interested in having an SLS member support that would align well with an SLS member’s 4-6 hour/week commitment. Note that you are welcome (and encouraged) to apply to host more than one SLS member if your capacity allows for it! 

Questions? Contact volunteer@pdx.edu or tichenor@pdx.edu.