As staff or faculty, do you want to help students at a time they may need you the most? If so, then being Volunteer Staff/Faculty Advocate may be for you. The Campus Sexual and Relationship Violence Center (SRVC) is seeking staff/faculty volunteers to serve as after-hours response advocates.

What is a SRVC Volunteer Staff/Faculty Advocate? An advocate is someone who wants to help students during a very difficult time. By being on call for one week at a time, the volunteer advocate provides support by responding to after-hours phone calls, and on occasion, accompanying victims/survivors who report to law enforcement or seek medical forensic exams after regular business hours. A bit of timely support during a very difficult time can make a lifetime difference for students during their experience.

What is involved with being a SRVC Staff/Faculty Volunteer Advocate? To be an advocate, you must have a willingness to help an individual during one of the most difficult times of their lives, be willing to believe and support the victim/survivor no matter what the situation and a willingness to serve on call after hours (5 p.m.-8 a.m.) during the week and throughout the weekend as part of a weekly rotation of volunteers. Our dedicated volunteers usually serve a couple of weeks per semester (fall and spring). The more volunteers, the more time between rotations. Those who have been volunteering have found that it is not an overwhelming amount of time, but when someone is in need after hours, it has been a rewarding experience to make a profound difference in an individual's life.

Being on call sounds 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 less likely than you think. But we need dedicated individuals to be available for when the need does exist. Also, don't be scared. We provide appropriate training so that volunteer advocates have a good working knowledge of advocacy prior to ever getting called out or taking a phone call. 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. 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.

How does one become a SRVC Staff/Faculty Volunteer Advocate?

Step 1: Basic requirements: currently employed by the university, either appointed classified or non-classified staff position or faculty position. Note: Students or contracted individuals are not eligible.

Step 2: Complete the application by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. Application for the SRVC Volunteer Faculty/Staff program is available here.

Step 3: Attend and complete the required training session on Friday, Jan. 6, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Training will be held on campus with location to be announced to approved applicants. 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 whatever position you work in for the university, as you will have a better understanding of matters related to sexual and relationship violence and 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 by 5 p.m. on Jan. 4. We want to have adequate materials prepared, and lunch will be provided during the required training Jan. 6. Questions may be directed to Dr. Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, SRVC director, at mwyandt@uark.edu.