About 90% of CSUnity Volunteers participate via a Volunteer Team of an already established registered student organization, campus department, office staff, academic class, or group of friends. CSU faculty, staff, and students may all volunteer. Participation is first-come, first-serve; if capacity is reached, you will be waitlisted. Transportation is not provided. Volunteer Teams comprise 5 or more CSU Rams and require a Volunteer Team Leader who also volunteers.
FYI: Volunteer recruitment must occur before registering; it is not the other way around. Signing up and showing up are critical to the success of CSUnity. Thus, please only register if you collectively intend to follow through. Thank you!
Team Leader Registration Steps
Online Team Leader Training is divided into several modules to make dense information more digestible. After each module, the Team Leader will need to complete the associated quiz questions. If you do not pass the quiz (80% or better), SLiCE will work with you individually to ensure you understand the concepts you missed before you are given your assigned service project at your Service Project Orientation. You are accountable for knowing the information shared in Team Leader Training; it will set you up for success as a CSUnity Team Leader and ensure SLiCE and your assigned Service Provider can count on you to show up and actively participate.
The 7 Training Modules (approx. 75 minutes with quiz)
- #1 – History & Value of CSUnity’s CAMmunity Service & SLiCE Behind-the-Scenes (8 minutes)
- #2 – Volunteer Team Leader Responsibilities (8.5 minutes)
- #3 – Volunteer Team Expectations & Communications (10 minutes)
- #4 – How to Contact & Interact with Service Providers (12 minutes)
- #5 – Grounds for Dismissal & Cancellation Policy (7 minutes)
- #6 – Navigating Challenges & Reducing Risk (6.5 minutes)
- #7 – Service Project Orientation, Check-In, & Check Out (4.5 minutes)
You must complete Online Team Leader Training before you submit a Volunteer Team Registration Form. However, the registration form can be submitted immediately thereafter (you do not need to wait for your quiz to be graded).
FYI: if you were a CSUnity Team Leader in past years, you need to retake the Online Team Leader Training again, as some processes and procedures have changed and the video modules have all been updated, and the quiz is different.
As a Team Leader, you must secure available volunteers part of your Volunteer Team before committing to participate in Ram$ for Change. Sometimes, volunteer recruitment and retention can be challenging. Yet, with this helpful checklist below, you can recruit volunteers effectively and accurately.
- Early Marketing: Communicate early with volunteers to ensure they are prepared to follow through. How? At an upcoming meeting, create and share an interest/availability form to identify committed volunteers.
- Personalize Messages: Know your audience and use their language. How? Vary your group communication style (i.e. email, text, social media, GroupMe, etc.) to cast a wider net. Send personal messages to potential volunteers and individualize your approach.
- Emphasize Benefits: Make it worth their time. How? Connect the purpose of the program to your team’s values. Share which career competencies could be met by discussing resume builders. Share the potential impact volunteering could have with the participating Service Providers. Link organization values to program goals.
- Attract Engaged Volunteers: Estimates are detrimental to the overall operation of CSUnity. When signing up, give only committed volunteer numbers and names. How? Reach out to past, reliable volunteers to gain buy-in and role model commitment. Identify backup volunteers who can fill in, if others drop. Keep a detailed list of volunteers and their contact information. Communicate clear consequences to ensure volunteers understand the importance of follow-through.
- Incentivize Participation: Sometimes volunteers need an extra push; think up how your team can incentivize. How? If able, offer free swag, snacks, etc. if they participate. Waive a membership fee. Release volunteers from a future team requirement.
- Make it a Team Effort: You do not have to recruit volunteers yourself. How? Lean on Back-Up Contact for support. Encourage volunteers to join with a friend, for additional bonding and to make participation less intimidating.
All Volunteer Teams are led by Volunteer Team Leaders, who also volunteer the day of CSUnity and count toward the total number of volunteers. Team Leaders do have additional responsibilities and play a critical role of both signing up their team of (already recruited and committed) volunteers and ensuring their Volunteer Team shows up to their service project the day of CSUnity and follows through. Volunteer Team Leaders are heavily supported by SLiCE; the Community Support Team is here to help you and your Volunteer Team succeed. Below is a distinction between the three types of teams and team leaders.
- Small (5-10 Volunteers) = team stays together, Volunteer Team Leader leads whole team
- Medium (11-19 Volunteers) = if team is split up, only 2 sub-teams, Volunteer Team Leader leads one sub-team, Sub-Team Leader* leads the other
- Large (20 Volunteers+) = team likely divided into 3+ teams, multiple Sub-Team Leaders* become on-site leads
*Sub-Team Leaders do not complete Team Leader Training, but they may view the training modules at any time to learn more about the leadership role. They do not attend the Service Project Orientation, nor attend Team Leader Check-In or Check-Out. However, they serve as a responsible and supportive team player, who would be an on-site lead if their Volunteer Team is split into sub-teams and divvied up between two or more service sites. The Volunteer Team Leader trains them to the degree the Volunteer Team Leader needs their help.
Back-Up Contact: the Volunteer Team Leader does need to consider a back-up contact, whose contact information is asked of on the registration form. This person does not have responsibilities as long as the Volunteer Team Leader is reachable with ease by SLiCE. However, if the Volunteer Team Leader cannot continue in their leadership role and needs to switch out, the Back-Up Contact becomes the new Volunteer Team Leader. They must complete Online Team Leader Training, and any remaining responsibilities of the original Volunteer Team Leader. This could include attending the Service Project Orientation, Team Leader Check-In, or Team Leader Check Out. Choose this back-up contact wisely; they are likely the person who you would first appoint as a Sub-Team Leader – someone responsible and supportive of you.
If you want your Volunteer Team to participate in CSUnity 2024, the following steps need to be handled in this order by the Team Leader.
- Recruit your volunteers well in advance and ensure their availability/ability/interest to follow through and serve on Sunday, April 21 (12PM – 4PM). Keep track of names and contact information of each committed volunteer, as you will be asked to disclose this on your registration form.
- Complete Online Team Leader Training and submit the quiz.
- Submit CSUnity Volunteer Team Registration form.
- Attend Service Project Orientation to learn of your specific service project match and receive critical reminders and resources to successfully complete your Team Leader duties. These orientations will occur other team leaders and SLiCE staff after registration closes.
- Contact your assigned service project provider (either a service-based community agency or a local neighbor).
- Ensure all volunteers complete the CSUnity Volunteer Waiver. For those who do not get their waivers in, follow up with them to complete this process before your CSUnity project begins. The number of waivers you have completed by this deadline equals the number of gloves, shirts, snacks, and other materials you can receive at Team Leader Check-In.
- If volunteers drop, find replacements, and keep SLiCE informed about changes to your team’s participation along the way. SLiCE can provide best practices to help salvage these situations!
- On Sunday, April 21, 11AM – 11:20AM, attend Team Leader Check-In in the SLiCE office (LSC 210).
- On Sunday, April 21, 12PM – 4PM, enjoy CSUnity by positively impacting the local community!
- On Sunday, April 21, by 5PM, attend Team Leader Check-Out in SLiCE (LSC 210) with gloves, pictures, and information about how each project went, after all of your service project(s) are completed.
Team Leaders are required to attend Service Project Orientation, which are set to occur Wednesday, April 3 – Friday, April 5. Multiple sessions will be offered, and you will sign up for the time that best works for you on your CSUnity Volunteer Team Registration. At this orientation, the following will occur.
- You will receive your Volunteer Team’s service project match(es)
- You will receive a checklist on how to contact your assigned neighbor/community agency (per project)
- You will receive final critical reminders & resources
- You may ask SLiCE staff questions in the group or individually
Every CSUnity Volunteer must submit their CSUnity waiver before the service project begins. Though the Monday before CSUnity is the deadline for waivers to be submitted, SLiCE will take Volunteer Waivers up to one minute before the service project starts. Nevertheless, shirts, gloves, and any other CSUnity materials will not be shared with volunteers who submit their waiver after the Monday, April 15 deadline.
To check volunteers submitted their waivers, you can do either of the following.
- Have them send you proof directly by taking a screenshot of their device that shows their waiver submission was “received” on RamLink.
- You can and should, review the “CSUnity – Team Leader Volunteer Tracking Spreadsheet” that is shared with you after Service Project Orientation via email. SLiCE’s Community Support Team will update it daily on each business day, starting one week before CSUnity, but not including the day itself. Watch the video at the bottom of the page for how to check this spreadsheet as a Team Leader.
Team Leader Check-In occurs the day of CSUnity on Sunday April 21, 11:00AM – 11:20AM. It is in the SLiCE office (Lory Student Center 210). Please note the following about Check-In:
- Only for Team Leaders
- Coffee & breakfast burritos for you
- Team Leaders need to be organized when they arrive at check-in to share with SLiCE any final updates of their side, ask any final questions, and collect gloves, shirts, rakes, etc. needed for their team
- Line starts to form 15 minutes early
- Takes 10 minutes to complete when at the front of the line
- Sub-Team Leaders can come to the LSC and wait nearby but we do not have room for all of them in SLiCE
- Plan accordingly to arrive to service project @ 12PM
- Tip: meet Sub-Team Leaders/volunteers in LSC afterward to share materials & instructions, & teambuild
Please keep in mind, you will need to return to the SLiCE office to check out after your CSUnity service project ends on Sunday, April 21. CSUnity Team Leader Check Out occurs until 4:45PM. Only the Team Leader attends Team Leader Check Out and brings gloves, photos, and any spare materials back to the office.
Online Team Leader Training & Quiz
Volunteer Team Registration
Volunteer Team Cancellation Policy
Every Volunteer Team Leader is responsible for knowing the following information, which was also explained thoroughly during Online Team Leader Training. Please read thoroughly to understand what is expected of you, your Volunteer Team, and your organization/department at large as it relates to CSUnity.
Once a Team Leader submits this Volunteer Team Registration Form, they lock in their Volunteer Team’s commitment to SIGN UP, SHOW UP, and ENGAGE in CSUnity. Commitment to following through is critical to the success of this community engagement program and ensures ongoing good relations between CSU and local service providers/non-profits, as well as SLiCE and other campus departments. PLEASE, do not submit a Volunteer Team Registration Form if your Volunteer Team does not meet the minimum requirement of 5 CSU volunteers (including yourself) committed to completing their assigned service project. Otherwise, the following Cancellation Policy applies.
- If cancellation of participation must occur the Team Leader is responsible for informing SLiCE’s Community Engagement Graduate Coordinator, Katlyn Murphy, via email or by phone (970-491-1653) with a proper explanation for the cancellation.
- The Volunteer Team will be penalized and unable to participate in any future CSUnity dates until case-by-case reparations are made, which depend on the severity of the cancellation.
- If the cancellation occurs more than two weeks before the CSUnity (either on or before the Friday immediately after the Service Project Orientation), a conversation between Katlyn, the Team Leader, and Back-Up Contact will occur to address the consequences of canceling and volunteer coordination best practices for CSUnity. Until SLiCE is assured the Volunteer Team is ready to participate in CSUnity again, the Volunteer Team will be suspended from participation in the community engagement program and potentially other community engagement programs in SLiCE and/or Off Campus Life (Fall Clean Up).
- If the cancellation occurs within two weeks of CSUnity (either on or after the Saturday immediately after the Service Project Orientation), all of the above happens, yet an additional Volunteer Team representative will need to attend the conversation with Katlyn – as in those who hold student officer and/or supervisor/advisor positions in the at-large CSU entity connected to the Volunteer Team. Additionally, a formal apology will need to be issued to the Service Provider or Neighbor.
- If the Volunteer Team does not show up to their assigned service project, all the above applies. Additionally, to repair the damage done, Volunteer Team must make up service project(s) before the semester ends so Service Provider still receives the volunteer help, they were expecting.
- If any Volunteer Team arrives late to their service project, and inconveniences the Service Provider or Neighbor, all of the above applies. Being timely and communicating any delays to your Service Provider or Neighbor is critical (as in, calling them before the service project begins), as well as notifying the SLiCE On-Call Support Line, as well. A few minutes late is okay though not ideal nor professional, if longer than a reasonable amount of tardiness, the Cancellation Policy applies. Please plan accordingly, and ensure someone from your Volunteer Team is present before/right when the service project begins to communicate that some volunteers are arriving but late. The consequences will be determined on a case-by-case basis after learning more from the Service Provider.
- If the Volunteer Team leaves early from their service project (earlier than what their assigned Service Provider or Neighbor is okay with and expects), all of the above applies.
- The Cancellation Policy is in effect until the Volunteer Team completes the appropriate steps to no longer be suspended, even if the Team Leader changes.
- If cancellation seems likely – please do not delay informing SLiCE. The more notice you provide us, the more likely we can bring in a waitlisted Volunteer Team or recruit new volunteers.
FYI: fluctuating volunteer numbers should not be a cause of reason to fully cancel your Volunteer Team’s participation in CSUnity; instead, many strategies can be employed to remedy this situation. Please reach out to SLiCE’s Community Support Team to brainstorm ideas for how to best navigate this challenge, rather than removing your entire Volunteer Team from participating. It is better that some volunteer on the service day, than none.
If SLiCE or your assigned Service Provider has difficulty communicating with the Team Leader (and Back-Up Contact) after multiple attempts in a reasonable amount of time, this is grounds for dismissal from participating in the upcoming service day. This unresponsiveness is interpreted as a lack of commitment.
- Noticeable Trends of Irresponsibility & Unresponsiveness
- Difficulty Reaching Volunteer Team Leader
- Do Not Attend Service Project Orientation or Check In
- Agency/Neighbor Struggles Working w/ You Before or Day Of
Depending on the severity of the issue, SLiCE may remove your Volunteer Team from participating any further in CSUnity 2024, or even CSUnity 2025, and the Cancellation Policy above would apply. Email and phone will be the communication methods, please ensure your email is checked closely and your voicemail box is set up and not full, to avoid dismissal. Please do not find yourself in this circumstance and continue to plan and act accordingly. Thank you!
Waitlisted Volunteer Teams are placed on the list in the order their Registration Form was received by SLiCE. Any waitlisted Volunteer Teams are welcome to opt-out of CSUnity and will face no penalty from the Cancellation Policy. This can occur at any time prior to being offered a service project and accepting to participate – which will remove you from the waitlist – and then activates the Cancellation Policy above. Usually, most waitlisted volunteers are eventually assigned a service project.
If your Service Provider cancels days before or on CSUnity, SLiCE will try to find another Service Project for your Volunteer Team to join. Depending on the size of your Volunteer Team, this may be easier or harder to do. SLiCE will work with you individually to determine what your Team is capable of doing if this were to happen. You are also welcome to not participate in CSUnity if this circumstance happens to you, with no cancellation penalization.
