Campus Sexual and Relationship Violence Center Is Recruiting Staff and Faculty Volunteer Advocates

Are you a faculty or staff member who wants to help students at a time of great need? If this sounds like you, consider volunteering as an after-hours Staff or Faculty Volunteer Advocate with the Campus Sexual and Relationship Violence Center.

Volunteer advocates serve on a rotation, typically a few times a semester and will answer phone calls that come into the SRVC main phone line after hours (5 p.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays, and over a weekend), and on occasion may be asked to come to UAPD after hours to meet with a victim/survivor of sexual assault when they are reporting. 

Being on call may sound scary and like a lot of time commitment. For victims who choose to report, having a trained volunteer advocate present can make all the difference! The reality is that getting called out is much less likely than you think. But we need dedicated individuals to be available and willing for when the need does exist. We provide appropriate training so that volunteer advocates have a good working knowledge of advocacy prior to taking phone calls or being asked to come to assist with a victim who is making a report. You don't have to know all the answers. You just need a willingness to be supportive and provide resources when called during your rotation. The SRVC staff provide all follow-up and ongoing advocacy needs with individuals. You are not expected to be involved long term, but your help when there is an immediate need after hours is priceless.

Becoming an SRVC Staff/Faculty Volunteer Advocate is as simple as 1, 2, 3.

1. Basic requirement: currently serve in an appointed classified or non-classified staff position or faculty position. (Note: students, hourly, or contracted individuals are not eligible.)
2. Complete the application by 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14.
3. Attend and complete the required training session to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16. Training will be held on campus with the location to be announced to approved applicants. Lunch is provided. Traditionally, with your supervisor's permission, attendance of this training has been allowable during regular work hours. The training will not only prepare you for being a volunteer advocate but will potentially enhance your ability to serve in your work for the university as you will have a better understanding of matters related to sexual and relationship violence and available resources.

We hope you will consider this opportunity to help students during one of their greatest times of need. Please remember that the application deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 14. We want to have adequate materials prepared. Questions may be directed to the Dr. Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, SRVC director, at mwyandt@uark.edu.