Volunteer Center

Be a Reading Tutor

Volunteer to assist with providing intensive academic support in a caring environment that builds self-esteem and confidence for at-risk youth.

One-on-One Tutoring Program

Assist 7th and 8th grade students on developing solid study skills in core subjects including English, Science, Math, and Social Studies.

Assist Adult English Language Learners

The International Institute of Minnesota is looking for empathetic, patient, motivated people to assist in piloting a new Volunteer Navigator program. These Navigators will be part-guidance counselor, part-coach, part-cheerleader, and part-mentor for students. If you are eager to use your communication skills and your creative problem-solving to help our adult English language learners reach their career, educational and personal goals, this opportunity could be for you.

Reader Writer Volunteer Opportunity

Make a difference with one hour a week …from your own home!

Reader/Writer is a high impact, low effort literacy initiative that pairs public school adolescents with writing-proficient adult volunteers. Each volunteer serves as a real life audience and writing coach for one or two metro area public middle or high school students in a writing exchange conducted through the mail. This process builds writing fluency and resilience for teens.

Two new volunteer opportunities

The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) is fielding volunteers to participate in a spatial localization study and to staff the 2018–19 Lego Robotics Tournament.

URVC leadership transition

After 20 years of dedicated and extensive involvement as University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) office manager and project director, Alan Kagan has stepped down from his leadership role to complete writing the book he has been working on for several years.

Lego Robotics Tournament

Support Lego robotics tournament involving grades 4-12. Volunteers are needed in both technical and non-technical roles. Several options of dates and locations.

Memory Study

Consider contributing to understanding of attention and memory by volunteering to participate in a research study being conducted in the Psychology Department. 

A Hearing Study

A new study entitled, Dynamic Effects in Peripheral Auditory Processing, will be conducted by the Psychology Department, and supervised by Dr. Magda Wojtczak of the Auditory Perception and Cognition Lab.

Study participants with normal hearing will be asked to detect the difference between two tones. Determination of "normal hearing" will be done in the lab. The study requires 5 or 6 two-hour sessions in the course of a month, and participants will be compensated $10/hour.

Tutors Needed at Murray Middle School!

Tutors wanted to with students on developing solid study skills and help with homework.  Murray Middle School near the U of M St. Paul campus offers a comprehensive tutoring/study skills support program during the school day as an elective class Monday through Friday during the last three class periods of the day from 11:08-12:08, 12:12-1:04 and 1:08-2:00 pm.

URVC looks back and ahead

It was a busy summer for the University Volunteer Retirees Center (URVC), recruiting individuals to assist with events ranging from mock trials and the opening of the new Bell Museum to fresh produce distribution and the Minnesota Fringe Festival.

Annual PDGR grant competition opens October 15

All University retirees from all campuses are eligible for awards of up to $5,000 to advance their projects.

Alan Kagan stepping down after 20 exemplary years

Longtime URVC Office Manager and Projects Director Alan Kagan will be stepping down at the end of September to complete a book for publication. Several people will be needed to continue his work.

Volunteer for mock trials at Mitchell Hamline

Those of you who are interested in promoting civic activities may wish to volunteer for the mock trials at Mitchell Hamline School of Law on September 13 and 14. For legal advocacy training, the same case will be tried both days by different lawyers. Volunteers deliberate and announce the verdict and spend time with the judge and lawyers to offer constructive critique.

Technology Training Assistance for Disabled

Volunteer to assist a disabled person become adept with the technology of a laptop, table, and/or mobile phone.