Volunteer Oxford

Volunteer Oxford

Volunteer Oxford (VO) is a student organization that operates collaboratively with Campus Life. VO seeks to provide Oxford students with service opportunities that enhance learning about themselves and society.

VO is the responsibility of Emily Penprase, Oxford's Coordinator of Community Service. Ms. Penprase annually selects three students to coordinate the daily aspects of VO, called Volunteer Oxford Coordinators (VOCs).

VOCs assist individual students who wish to volunteer in the local community by maintaining contacts with local agencies that need assistance. The VOCs interview students, determine an appropriate site for their service and assist in the details of acquainting the volunteer with the agency. VOCs also assist/advise student organizations at Oxford that perform group service projects. Finally,the VOCs assist annually in the "Into the Streets" program of service for all first year student enrolled in the Freshman Seminar class.

Goals for Volunteer Oxford

1. Maintain an up-to-date resource file of local agencies that use student volunteers.
2. Promote community service at Oxford and assist with addressing the hurdles that make volunteering difficult.
3. Assist student organizations that wish to perform community service.
4. Track volunteer hours of students and student groups.
5. Bring attention to community services as an institutional value and show appreciation to those who are engaged in effective service.
6. Provide opportunities for student to gain new skills and exposure to societal needs.
7. Make community service meaningful for students as well as effective for those being served.

For more information, please contact Emily Penprase (emily.penprase@emory.edu).