Finalizing the module

I have been working on the online training module for our alumni chapter volunteers and I have been thinking a lot about how this will help provide a structure for how alumni volunteers are trained all across campus. One thing that has been brought to our attention recently is that there are alumni being engaged in volunteer opportunities all across campus, but no one is taking in to consideration how the university as a whole comes across when every office handles them in different ways. Ideally, there would be a dedicated staff person considering what each office was doing and trying to create consistencies across campus so that a volunteer could move seamlessly through different volunteer opportunities without having to learn new processes or procedures. 

This being said, I am still only in charge of one group of volunteers and the way that they are trained for the purposes of the Alumni Office. As I move forward, this training needs to be one of the best ones on campus so that volunteers are not attracted to other opportunities. I found a great online resources from The Community Toolbox about volunteer orientations. In the article, they say that in a volunteer orientation, you should cover:

• A description of your organization's programs, the community you serve, and your organization's relationships in the community.
• The structure of your organization, including an introduction to key staff members and an explanation of their roles.
• What is expected of the volunteers, including a general overview of the jobs they will be doing.
• A brief history of your organization. Help them understand your organization's mission, policies and main goals, as well as how the volunteer can contribute.
• An explanation of your organization's policies, rules, and procedures.
• A tour of the facilities. Make sure you show the volunteer offices, phones, rest rooms, parking, et cetera.
• The volunteer training schedule, if one exists.
• The volunteer evaluation and performance review system.
• Volunteer benefits. These may be tangible, such as free membership in a nearby gym or free coffee and doughnuts for breakfast. But the job also has more abstract benefits, such as personal growth or the opportunity to obtain new skills. For example, a group helping to build low-income housing may teach volunteers the basics of construction--a skill they will be able to use throughout their lives. A mentoring relationship might give the mentor the satisfaction of having helped a young person succeed in school, or having opened his protégé's eyes to new life possibilities.
• Emergency procedures, such as where to go in case of a storm, where to find the first aid kit, and related information, should always be explained.

 I think that most of these things that are applicable are covered in the training module that I have created.