Determine Roles and Responsibilities

At the pilot campuses, the commitment to participate in a multi-year pilot project came from the Presidents’ offices. However, the day-to-day management was led by coordinators ranging from student affairs to undergraduate studies to the campus center for public service.

House the Call to Serve campaign in a logical place to maximize visibility, credibility, reach and staying power of the effort. This may be career services, but depending on the size of your campus and the relative level of emphasis on public service in general, the best “home” for coordinating cross-campus efforts could be in an academic unit or an office of service learning. Resourcing is a consideration; if your campus is able to devote someone as a coordinator either at the staff level or at the student level, then that coordinator should have an affiliation and ideally an office in the effort’s “home."  For example, at Stanford University, the program was housed in the Hass Center for Public Service with the support of a part-time employee and a student intern.

Hire a Student Assistant

Based on the experiences of the pilot campuses, one of the most effective and efficient ways to promote federal service on campus is to hire a part time student.  In particular, graduate students are well positioned to manage the project and to hold their own with administrators and faculty. With guidance from a well-placed administrator with access to senior administrative/departmental leaders, this student can implement a coherent plan that reaches across campus.

For example, at Clark Atlanta University, a graduate student was hired to work with the Office of the Vice Provost was hired as program manager.  This not only saved resources for the university, but had the additional value of adding a student perspective at the management level.  Louisiana State University decided to hire external professional project coordinator who was an LSU alumnus.  This brought a highly skilled individual who was familiar with campus into program management.

Build on any Existing Public Service Culture on your Campus

Is there a service-learning program or center devoted to this issue that would be a natural fit? At many schools, promoting information and opportunities related to federal public service may well fit with broader efforts to promote civic engagement or public service, whether volunteer or career-oriented.

© 2007-2013 Partnership for Public Service