Boiler Volunteer Network
Both the Purdue community and the Greater Lafayette community have rich traditions of service. Volunteers from all walks of life, all interests and all ages provide more than we know to our great city. The Boiler Volunteer Network wants to help the Purdue community locate the resources needed for everyone to be a contributor.
Volunteering can be a magical experience. Giving of yourself to help others, learning a new skill, feeling satisfaction or earning a class credit are all rewarding on many levels. Please read the following information to learn about what we call the BVN.
What is the Office of Community Service and Learning?
In partnership with the Purdue ad hoc Task Force on Citizenship Education, the President’s Council on Retirement and the Purdue Memorial Union we have helped develop an office that is to be a clearinghouse of volunteer information and service opportunities.
Our Mission is to strengthen partnerships between the Purdue University and Greater Lafayette communities by facilitating intentional and meaningful community service and learning opportunities that meet societal needs.
Basically, we want to help the faculty, staff, students, retirees and alumni of Purdue University volunteer and learn from the experience! Our office will refer individuals to volunteer opportunities, coordinate service projects, provide resources about volunteering and service learning and put students in touch with more information regarding service learning courses and other opportunities.
What is the GLVB’s role in the partnership?
As GLVB has been in existence for over 30 years, we have a vast amount of knowledge of the community. We bring that, along with our printed resources, to the office. Our Volunteer Opportunity Guides, Group Project Lists and Hot Needs column are shared with the office to provide the Purdue community with information about over 120 agencies. Our Volunteer Coordinator staffs the office for 6 hours a week, keeping our connection strong.
What does Service-Learning have to do with it?
As mentioned above, we have a strong connection with the Purdue ad hoc Task Force on Citizenship Education. This partnership allows us to be on the cutting edge of what’s new in service and learning. Through our office, students will be able to find out what Service-Learning classes are offered, and what kinds of activities are involved.
Just what is Service-Learning?
The Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL) lists the following five elements as the make up of Service-Learning:
- Community Voice: Hearing and responding to community needs is essential to build bridges, make change and solve problems.
- Orientation and Training: Preparing participants for service by providing information about eh community they will enter, the issue and the agency.
- Meaningful Action: Community action has value and meaning to all parties involved—students community agencies and those being served.
- Reflection: Participants reflect on their volunteer experiences, record or share their reactions and think critically about the service performed, the need and underlying social issues.
- Evaluation: Measures the impact of the learning experience and the effectiveness of the service. Provides direction for improvement. Volunteers find better ways to serve.
How to get involved:
Come visit as at G4 in the Stewart Center, or you can call the office at 496-2450.
Visit the BVN website at: http://www.purdue.edu/odos/sao/bvn