��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge launches UVolunteer program

trevor.kenney — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 22:16:31 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Volunteer Lethbridge announced a new initiative today that will increase the awareness of volunteer opportunities for students in the Lethbridge community, as well as create more pathways for local organizations to access student volunteers.

Launched at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s annual Volunteer Fair, UVolunteer sets in motion a comprehensive plan that coordinates all the student volunteer activity on campus.

“It is formalizing that relationship between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Volunteer Lethbridge and putting it into action, as well as creating an awareness and process by which students can get their eyes into the community and the opportunities that exist for them,” says Volunteer Lethbridge Executive Director Diana Sim. “It also is a means to get local organizations to consider what a volunteer might be able to do for them and open them up to looking at volunteerism in a different way.”

The U of L and Volunteer Lethbridge forged a partnership just over two years ago that saw the local organization move its offices into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Dr. Foster James Penny Building in downtown Lethbridge. At that time, U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon recognized the many students who were already embracing volunteer experiences and saw the formalization of a partnership as a way to further enhance the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s presence in the community.

“This partnership has been very beneficial to both our students and the citizens of Lethbridge,” says Mahon. “While student volunteers gain opportunities to add experiential learning to the skills they acquire while going to school, local organizations are able to tap into their energy and serve the community in an even more impactful manner.”

Third-year management student Tiffany Herrell is the program coordinator for the student volunteer initiative, working in a co-op position funded by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Having started volunteering as a child with her family, it was only natural that she would continue to do so while at the U of L.

“I think the values of giving back to the community and collectivism are central to many students here at the U of L,” says Herrell. “It also really gives students an opportunity to gain skills and experience outside a formal educational setting. These skills can be very valuable because often times, students don’t have that work experience when they are trying to enter the workforce.”

One of the key aspects of the UVolunteer initiative is a module on the program’s website that allows volunteers to record their volunteer experiences.

“Currently, we have a large portion of our student population that is volunteering but they have no way to track the volunteer hours they are putting in,” says Herrell. “This will give them a tool to track those hours and create a history of all the places at which they’ve worked.”

It will also give the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ measurable data on the impact of its students in the community; something that Sim predicts will be eye-opening.

“I think a lot of people will be surprised to see just how many students are involved, and how many hours they are actually giving back to the community,” she says.

Students interested in learning more about the UVolunteer initiative are urged to visit the program’s website: volunteerlethbridge.com/uvolunteer.

President Mahon outlines vision for U of L at inaugural Community Town Hall

trevor.kenney — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 23:47:19 +0000

Three weeks after delivering his annual Fiat Lux Address to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge president Dr. Mike Mahon addressed southern Albertans, Wednesday evening, sharing key future directions for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

In his address, delivered at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Dr. Foster James Penny Building in downtown Lethbridge, Mahon spoke about the U of L’s impact on the City of Lethbridge both economically and in terms of community engagement.

Mahon's address to the community reflected many of the themes he first presented at the Fiat Lux Address in October.

In addition to sharing that the U of L has an economic impact of $1.7 billion annually in the province and $801 million within the city of Lethbridge, Mahon also addressed new community initiatives, such as the collaboration with Volunteer Lethbridge.

“This partnership (with Volunteer Lethbridge) will create opportunities for an enhanced connection to the community and greater opportunities for our students to engage in volunteer activity,” said Mahon. “We believe this type of community engagement greatly benefits a student’s academic experience. Despite funding issues, we continue to move forward on ensuring our programs are of the highest quality and on the development of innovative, new degree pathways at the undergraduate and graduate levels.”

Mahon took the opportunity to thank the community for its advocacy on behalf of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ since the U of L had its Campus Alberta operating grant cut in March.

“I think it is fitting that today the Alberta government made a significant reinvestment in our sector - a 2.6 per cent in-year increase to the U of L - the same day this speech was scheduled,” said Mahon. “I am incredibly grateful to the many members of senior administration, our faculty, students, Board of Governors, Senate and the public who advocated so passionately on the importance of post-secondary education to the future of our province.”

Mahon added that while uncertainty remains in its budget landscape, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ could take solace in positive enrolment numbers, which reinforce the tremendous national and international reputation earned by the U of L.

This fall, more than 8,300 students are enrolled at the U of L’s Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton campuses. That number includes more than 1,100 first-year high school graduates, an increase of 11.3% over last year. In addition, the U of L is quickly becoming a university of choice for graduate students from across the country and around the world as demonstrated by an increase of 16.4% in graduate student enrolment.

Despite an uncertain budget landscape, Mahon said it was important for the U of L to remain forward-looking to ensure the future success of the institution. He said the U of L is currently revising its strategic plan to help guide the university in the future.

The draft strategic plan outlines five familiar priorities, shared Mahon. They are to excel as a comprehensive university, continue enhancing the student experience, promote access to quality post-secondary education, build our internal community while enhancing those valuable, productive relationships with external communities and enhance the sustainability of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

In looking to the future, Mahon spoke about how the Destination Project, which includes the construction of new science facilities, will be transformational for the U of L, and also for the city.

“We have considered the concept of the new science facility as more than a teaching and research space but a place for community engagement and outreach,” said Mahon. “A research incubator, a place where undergraduate and graduate research opportunities flourish, where knowledge transfer and commercialization happen; a place the next generation of researchers, scientists and scholars credit for the start of their science careers.”

Making an address to the community is an important activity said Mahon, recognizing the important role that community leaders have played in establishing and ensuring the growth of the U of L.

“The U of L was founded in 1967 thanks to the persistence of a forward-thinking group of citizens who believed southern Alberta merited its own university. While a lot has changed in 46 years, I’m happy to say that the commitment of this community to the U of L has remained a constant,” said Mahon. “Your unwavering support has enabled the U of L to become one of Canada’s most outstanding universities and for that we are incredibly grateful.”

UNews - Volunteer Lethbridge

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge launches UVolunteer program

Related Topics

President Mahon outlines vision for U of L at inaugural Community Town Hall

Related Topics

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge launches UVolunteer program