Volunteer with Unitea

Unitea Hosts must meet the following volunteers requirements for September 2024:

• Have turned 18 years of age by September 1, 2024 or will be turning 18 years of age by December 31, 2024. 
• Enrolled as a part-time or full-time student at the University of Alberta for the academic year at the North Campus.
• Completed the Community Helpers Program before September 1, 2024.
• Submit a Police Information Check/Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check from the location of their main address (i.e. the address on the candidate’s government-issued ID)
• Completed 22 hours of in-person and asynchronous training, including Host Orientation in August and September.

• Approachable: empathetic, compassionate, non-judgmental, genuine, and demonstrates active listening skills.
• Openness: committed to learning and demonstrating equity, inclusion, and diversity principles. 
• Motivational: enthusiastic, creative, and takes initiative.
• Collaborative: adaptable, flexible, and works well in a team environment.
• Professional: respectful of others, upholds boundaries and confidentiality and privacy.
• Accountable: reliable, timely communication, and displays sound time-management practices.
• Community-minded: foster a sense of belonging, inclusion, and openness.
• Please note we require those applying as Collective Hosts to have strong group facilitation skills, and Outreach Hosts should have strong interpersonal skills. Project management experience is an asset for the Outreach Host role.

Commit to at least one (1) academic year (i.e. Fall & Winter terms) with the Unitea program.

Important: All Unitea Hosts are stewards of the Unitea program and, by extension, the University of Alberta. All volunteers are expected to uphold confidentiality and provide assistance to peers (within capacity).

Boost student mental health and well-being through social connection by 1) planning, organizing and carrying out meaningful activities and events that reflect the values of Unitea, and 2) supporting campus community dialogue and program-related activities.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and carry out 1 to 2 campus outreach events/activities per term.
• Collaborate with Wellness Supports Health Promotion Outreach colleagues to plan, organize, carry out regular social events.
• Use active listening skills to support students in meaningful ways at outreach events/activities.
• 1x office hours each week for promotional work and activities.
• Participate in campus community dialogue events/activities, including tabling.
• Attend regular meetings and trainings.
• Participate in on-going professional development training, including feedback sessions and check-ins with supervising staff.
• Assist with program promotion (i.e. distribute program materials like posters) during the Fall/Winter terms.

Time Commitment

• 1 hour/week: office work for program-related promotional work.
• 4 hours/month: plan for monthly socials and outreach events/activities, including group meetings and independent time. 
• 5 hours/month: organize and carry out monthly socials and outreach events/activities. 
• 2 hours/month: mandatory team meeting and professional development.
• Total: 15 hours/month or 3.75 hours/week 

Outreach Host Application - Apply Here

Boost student mental health and well-being through social connection by 1) meeting with undergraduate and graduate students for one-to-one conversations, including discussions that may be casual/lighthearted and meaningful/supportive, and 2) supporting campus community dialogue and program-related activities.

Responsibilities

• Engage in 2x weekly 1-hr tea time shifts and substitute shifts as needed.
• Use active listening skills to support students in meaningful ways.
• Able to discuss a range of topics (e.g., time management, exam stress, language practice, questions about campus, hobbies/interests, and everything in between).
• Refer students to appropriate supports and debrief with Unitea support staff (as needed).
• Communicate with student guests as needed through the booking system (e.g., send welcome message, follow-up with services and resources, etc.).
• Participate in campus community dialogue events/activities, including tabling.
• Attend regular meetings and trainings.
• Participate in on-going professional development training, including feedback sessions and check-ins with supervising staff.

Time commitment

• 3 hours/week: 2x scheduled one-to-one tea time shifts (inclusive of the activity itself, preparation, documentation, and administration).
• 2 hours/month: mandatory team meeting and professional development.
• 1 hour/month: campus and program-related activities (i.e. tabling, poster distribution etc.)
• Total: 15 hours/month or 3.75 hours/week

One-to-One Host Application - Apply Here

Boost student mental health and well-being through social connection by 1) facilitating group conversations with undergraduate, graduate students, and specialized groups, and 2) supporting campus community dialogue and program-related activities.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate 2x monthly 1 hr group conversations (1x could be a specialized collective tea time i.e. SpecialTea)
• Prepare topical themes, talking points, prompts to be used in collective discussions
• Use active listening skills to support students in meaningful ways
• Set-up, take-down, and store collective tea time supplies
• Refer student guests to appropriate supports and debrief with Unitea support staff (as needed)
• Participate in campus community dialogue events/activities, including tabling.
• Attend regular meetings and trainings.
• Participate in on-going professional development training,including feedback sessions and check-ins with supervising staff.

Time commitment

• 5 hours/month: 2x collective tea time shifts (inclusive of the activity itself, set up/take-down/store, documentation, and administration).
• 4 hours/month: prepare topical themes, talking points, prompts group discussions.
• 3 hours/month: promotion and coordination SpecialTeas.
• 2 hours/month: mandatory team meeting and professional development.
• 1 hour/month: campus and program-related activities (i.e. tabling, poster distribution etc.)
• Total: 15 hours/month or 3.75 hours/week

Collective Host Application - Apply Here