Leadership & Professional Development

OACS offers a wide variety of leadership and professional development opportunities. Please take a look at just a few below, or browse the website for more OACS programming and community involvement opportunities, or always feel free to get in touch with the staff to schedule a service consultation.

leadership opportunities

1. plan a service project

There are several community agencies in Nashville that would love your help planning a service project. Here are some basic steps to help you get started:

1. Identify a need: Check the OACS Bulletin Board or local community agencies like Hands on Nashville for some ideas on who’s looking for help
2. Plan for everything: Contact the community agency and arrange the date, time, number of volunteers, and supplies that will be needed for project.

Plan your transportation. OACS has vehicles to rent for service free of charge (with prior authorization).

3. Recruit volunteers: Send e-mails, post on Facebook and Twitter, hang fliers, utilize word of mouth and one-on-ones to garner interest.
4. Serve: Put some legs on your planning.
5. Reflect: Why did you engage in service?  What went well?  What crashed and burned?  What felt off?  What was uplifting?  Please contact an OACS staff member to discuss this piece of service more fully.  It is most often where the leadership development grows roots.

2. join a student service organization

OACS advises over 60 student service organizations! There are leadership opportunities in every one of these organizations. Click HERE for a complete list.

3. apply to be a House Service Commissioner

First-year students have the opportunity to lead their respective house in service as a House Service Commissioner.  Responsibilities include:

• Working closely with the House Advisory Council, the House Staff, and the Faculty Head of House;
• Promoting existing service structures, clubs, organizations and opportunities to first-year students of that House;
• Developing opportunities for new service relationships between the House and service partners or projects;
• Working with a designated staff member of the Office of Active Citizenship and Service to serve as liaison between the House and campus student service organizations.

professional development opportunities

prep

PREP: Preparing for Leadership and Service in a Diverse Society

PREP engages students in issues pertaining to leadership in society, cultural  diversity, social justice, civic engagement, and professional development.

Fall 2011

· 8-10 Training Seminars

· 1-2 Professional Development Workshops 

· 1 Service-Internship Placement Fair

Spring 2012

· Complete minimum of 60 hours at your service-internship
site (average of 4-6 hours per week)

· Meet with mentor minimum of 4 times

· Submit 10 weekly online journal reflections responding to prompts/questions from PREP staff

Participants will also attend 3 monthly dinner discussions and discuss your experiences, accomplishments, and challenges with your peers.

Please click HERE for the full rundown on PREP.

view

“VIEW Life: The opportunity you’ve been looking for with the community you love.”

VIEW provides students with 8-week public service internships with leading agencies and congressional offices in our nation’s capital, and includes a variety of other features:

-Living-Learning Community - Experience DC with fellow Vanderbilt students

-Mentor Program - Access to VU Alumni who will give you insight on Washington, various professions, and how to make the most of your experience

-Supplemental Programming - Dinners, events, forums, guest speakers,& other activities

-Professional Development & Critical Reflection

Please click HERE for the full rundown on VIEW.