Volunteer Criteria:  All alumni and friends in the Lincoln area. All new officials must attend one of two mandatory training sessions. 

Job Description:  Helpers deliver questions to competition rooms and retrieve scores. We will also need volunteer officials to serve as rules judges, timekeepers, science judges, scorekeepers and moderators for the competition rounds.  For descriptions of officials’ duties, click here. Each volunteer will receive a meal ticket for lunch and a Science Bowl t-shirt.

Timeframe:  All new officials must attend one of two mandatory training sessions, which will be held Thursday, January 27, 2011, from 7-9 p.m. and Friday, January 28, 2011, from 9 - 11 a.m. at the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District office at 3125 Portia Street in Lincoln.

The Annual Middle School Science Bowl will be held Saturday, January 29, 2011, and the Annual High School Science Bowl will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2011.  Both events will take place at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus Student Union. 

Volunteer Criteria: Experts are needed from the following industry sectors:

• Advanced Materials and Nanotech
• Animal Health and Vaccines
• Biotech and Pharma
• Clean Energy and Infrastructure
• Devices and Electronics
• Food, Nutrition and Water
• Improved Crop Genetics
• Software and Information Technology

Refer to NUtech's website at nutechventures.org for further information and current research underway in these areas.

Individuals working in industry from domestic and foreign markets interested in becoming a Technology Assessor are encouraged to contact NUtech Ventures. A willingness to reach out to your professional network to further assist with the commercial assessment would be beneficial.

Job Description: As an expert in his or her field, a Technology Assessor is someone who can advise and assess the technical aspects and commercial potential of early stage University technology.  In cooperation with NUtech Ventures' Technology Agents, he or she should be able to commit one or two hours per technology. A Technology Assessor can communicate assessments to NUtech staff in email, by phone or through face-to-face meetings. Consultation may be provided to NUtech in a confidential or nonconfidential manner, depending on the technology and the IP protection strategy.

Timeframe: Ongoing.

If you are interested in volunteering, please click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends near the Lincoln area.  No special background or expertise is required.

Job Description: Docents lead visitor tours and share information about the Sheldon and its outstanding exhibitions while enjoying the rewards of assisting others and developing their knowledge about American art. Docents must have time to volunteer, demonstrate a commitment to education in the visual arts, and have an enthusiasm about working with people of all ages.

Timeframe: Volunteers must apply by Aug. 15. The course will begin Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Sheldon. Ongoing monthly training sessions will be held throughout the school year. Following the course, the docent program requires a commitment of one morning per week throughout the school year.

For more information contact Karen Janovy, director of education at the Sheldon, by e-mail (kjanovy1@unl.edu) or by phone at 402-472-4524, or click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria:  All alumni and friends interested in making an ongoing commitment to helping the Center carry out its mission.

Job Descriptions:  

• Collections volunteers assist in the care of the quilt collection by preparing quilts for exhibitions, refolding, vacuuming, attaching sleeves and related work, committing to an average of three hours/month. 
• Docents lead guided exhibition tours for adults and/or children, and staff the gallery during special events and other programs, committing to an average of one tour/month, plus ongoing training.
• Visitor Services volunteers are needed to interact with guests in the galleries during museum hours and special events, offer hospitality and answer questions, and by being present, assist in ensuring the safety of the quilts, committing to an average of three hours/month, plus ongoing training.
• Visitor Services volunteers are also needed in the reading room to provide the same services.

All Quilt Center volunteers enjoy interesting work, learning opportunities and free Museum admission.

Timeframe:  Collections volunteers must be able to work a weekday morning (Monday through Thursday) from 9 a.m.-noon. Docents work an irregular schedule as needed to cover public and pre-arranged tours during regular museum hours. Visitor Services volunteers work from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday or from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. Some volunteers choose to work a regular schedule while others prefer more flexibility. Volunteer meetings and training sessions are generally scheduled for the fourth Thursday of the month beginning at noon with a "Tuesday Talk."

For more information contact Barbara Caron (bcaron2@unl.edu), assistant director or click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria:  All students, alumni and friends in the Lincoln area. 

Job Description:  Each mentor is matched with an international student at UNL. They meet and interact with their mentee at least once a week for eight weeks of the semester.  This might include attending local community activities and events or assisting with any questions the student might have about the university or community.

Timeframe:  The next program will begin in the first few weeks of the Spring 2011 semester.  Mentors are asked to commit only one hour per week to their partner for eight weeks and are required to attend the Connections Party, which takes place during the first week, and the Closing Party, which takes place during the last week.

For more information contact Sarah Barr at the UNL Office of International Affairs by e-mail (sbarr2@unl.edu) or by phone at 402-472-5892 or click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: Anyone in the field of architecture, engineering, or the related sciences; must be able to visit schools in the Omaha, Neb., area.

Job Description: Mentors may work alone or with an assistant mentor to guide a team of students in preparing a "preliminary" engineering report for the SMP Competition that takes place at the end of the program. Each team is composed of the mentor(s), a teacher and, on average, about 10 students from either a high school or a middle school in the Omaha area. The schools organize the teams which may function within the school curriculum or as extracurricular clubs.

The mentor meets with the team regularly to help identify a project, provide direction in accomplishing the project goals, demonstrate how a professional would develop a solution for the project, and guide the students in preparing a report and presenting the project to a panel of judges at the competition.

Timeframe: The program occurs annually and runs during the school year from about October to April. Each mentor meets with the school team on a weekly basis for approximately 30 weeks during this time for a total of 30 hours. The mentor may earn up to 30 Professional Development Hours (PDH). The use of two mentors per team helps assure one of the mentors will be able to attend the team meetings each week.

For more information contact: the Program Administrator by email or by phone at 402-554-2098, or click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: Employers in related fields that are UNL Alumni

Job Description: Employers volunteer to provide employment for students in their businesses. NCMN will recommend upper level undergraduate or graduate students who have demonstrated strong abilities that would contribute toward a business’ increased performance using materials or nanoscience research and academic information. Students are expected to complete work that provides the business with positive results in products and/or processes.

Timeframe: Dates, total time and salary commitment are up to the employer and could include internships for the academic year and/or summer in Lincoln or other business locations.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience at tjanovec3@unl.edu or (402) 472-2716. If you are interested in being a part of NCMN Internships, please click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends aged 19 and older and living in Nebraska who have a commitment to supporting and developing youth; also seeking teens with leadership skills. You do not have to be 4-H alumnus.

“Job” Description: Many opportunities are available here on the UNL campus and in all areas of the state of Nebraska. Some common roles for volunteers include:

• 4-H Club Leader – works with a group of youth in a club format, usually as a team with other volunteers
• 4-H Project Volunteer – provides education to youth in an area of interest of the volunteer including: Leadership and Citizenship; Communications and Expressive Arts; Science Engineering and Technology; Healthy Lifestyles; Family and Consumer Sciences; Environment; Plant Sciences; and Animal Sciences. Opportunities could be ongoing, periodic, or one-time only.
• Educational event/program support – involves planning, facilitating, or supporting educational activities such as workshops, camps or day camps, county fairs, contests, the State Fair, after school programs, etc.
• Leadership Volunteer – serves on local or state planning committees, 4-H Councils, or other leadership teams
• Other unique opportunities are available annually or seasonally in each county 4-H program and at the State 4-H Office.

Timeframe: Ongoing, periodic, and everything in between

For more information email Doug Swanson, call him at 402-472-1762 or click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends aged 60 and older; must live in Lincoln or the surrounding areas.

"Job" Description: Once your name has been added to the PVN contact list, you will be contacted to participate in research projects. The duties asked will change depending on the study that has recruited you. For example a researcher may contact you about completing short tasks or answering questions on a survey. The studies will usually take less than an hour. Each time you are contacted, you will receive information about a current research opportunity. Then, you can decide if you would like to participate. There are no obligations to participate in any particular study.

Timeframe: Ongoing; research studies are conducted year round.

For more information contact: Lindsey Wylie or click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends; must be a current member of the Nebraska Alumni Association or willing to join

Job Description: Chapter volunteer leaders (“coordinators” and “associate coordinators”) provide dedicated leadership , which is the first requirement for a successful alumni chapter.
Specific volunteer job responsibilities include:

• Promote the university within the community and actively promote association membership.
• Participate in coordination of one or more activities and programs such as football watch sites, picnics, scholarships and career networking.
• Assist with communications and/or reporting (example: Web site coordinator).

In summary, each chapter volunteer is serving as an ambassador, liaison, recruiter, donor and leader.

Timeframe: Ongoing

For more information contact Bob Stelter.

Volunteer Criteria: UNL Alumni with law degrees; need not be a UNL College of Law graduate

“Job” Description: Volunteers are asked to conduct business as usual and let the student(s) observe and possibly participate in their routine. The total time commitment is up to the volunteer, but it is typical to commit either a half day or a full day to one or more students. A few examples of what could take place during the job shadow include guiding students around the office, explaining the day-to-day workings of your office, letting them accompany you to court, or inviting them to sit in on a meeting, mediation, deposition or the like. Students are prepared to sign confidentiality agreements prior to their shadow experience, if needed.

Timeline: This year, the program will run from March 21 through March 25, 2011. For more information or if you have questions, please contact the College of Law Career Services Office at lawcareer@unl.edu or (402) 472-5130.

If you know you are interested in being a part of the Spring Break Shadow program, please click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends near the Lincoln area

Job Description: Visitor Services personnel provide friendly assistance to all patrons while performing general security procedures and sales of Great Plains-related publications and artwork. Depending on interest and ability, volunteers might execute projects as specified by the museum curator, such as filing, mailings, inventories, special events preparation, some art handling and installation assistance.  

Timeframe: Public hours are generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:30 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed university holidays and between exhibitions. Installations generally take place Monday through Thursday at the beginning of the month. Volunteers may work a regularly scheduled weekday or remain on-call for special events or installations.  

For more information email Amber Mohr at Great Plains Art Museum or click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends

Job Description: Volunteers are supplied a list of newly admitted students from their state along with the appropriate amount of NU postcards. Alumni are then asked to write a short message (a sample is provided) to their students and affix the proper postage to the postcard. Volunteers have the potential to be contacted more than once during the recruitment season (October - April) depending on the number of newly enrolled students from their area.

After sending the postcards, volunteers are asked to return a contact sheet so that we can keep track of all the students who have been sent a message. At the end of the summer, volunteers will get a list with the names of their students who have enrolled for fall classes.

Timeframe: Postcards are generally sent out in batches October through April. It is helpful for volunteers to complete and mail the postcards within 2 weeks of receipt.

For more information contact: Pam Penner at the Nebraska Alumni Association, or click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: All alumni and friends living in Nebraska; must have an e-mail address.

Job Description: Volunteers are provided with clear, concise and result-oriented information about how legislative and policy incentives will impact -- positively or negatively -- the University of Nebraska. Your involvement will most likely take place during the legislative or election cycle, where you may be called upon to take action if you agree with the bill or issue.

For more information contact Pam Penner at the Nebraska Alumni Association or click here to sign up.

Volunteer Criteria: Durham School alumni

Job Description: The Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction is sending a call to alumni for volunteers interested in joining the Alumni Outreach Council (AOC). AOC volunteers may visit local high schools in their area, telling their own success stories and enhancing name recognition for Nebraska Engineering. Volunteers may speak with prospective students, answer questions and generate further interest in architectural engineering, construction engineering and construction management in an effort to recruit the best and brightest students to UNL's Durham School. Other volunteer opportunities include delivering recruitment materials to high schools, hosting freshmen send-off events, and identifying and referring prospective students. Even an hour of your time can significantly impact a student's final choice to attend UNL and help us continue the tradition of academic opportunity, diversity and excellence.

Timeframe: Ongoing

For more information, email Rosemary Edzie or click here to sign up.