BEHIND THE SCENES

Behind The Scenes:
ABA Volunteers

The beginning of each semester brings with it new opportunities, challenges and, most importantly, new students. ABA offices do their best to prepare with extra staff, extended hours and additional services to help pre-empt potential student frustrations.

One of ABA's most successful strategies for meeting first week demands is through volunteer assistance. This edition of Behind the Scenes focuses on the individuals who volunteer their time to assist in other offices - why do they do it and what are the rewards. Yes, there are many!

Two ABA units that experience a high volume of student traffic during the first few weeks of the semester, University Transportation & Parking Services (UTAPS) and the Student Financial Services Center, rely on the help of ABA staff and management volunteers to ensure that students' needs are met. These offices benefit greatly from the service of ABA colleagues.

"UTAPS relies on volunteers to help serve our customers at the beginning of each semester," said Senior Director of UTAPS Tony Lucas. "Volunteers at key locations on campus help UTAPS get the word out to students about UTAPS programs, services and alternative parking and transportation programs."

University Bursar Gina Curry, echoes these sentiments: "They are a huge help. Students don’t have to wait in line for simple services. Our employees benefit, but the students benefit even more."

Former students who volunteer understand the stresses at play at the beginning of the semester. Trying to find classes, pay fees on time, purchase books and seek advising - all in different locations with deadlines looming - can be daunting if you are unfamiliar with the campus landscape, and volunteers can have a huge impact on easing that stress."As a former Sac State student, I really appreciated when staff members would take the time to answer my questions or steer me in the right direction," said Stacy Hayano, associate vice president of Budget Planning & Administration. "This opportunity allows me to give back to the new students."

Director of Auditing Services Kaye Milburn says that Volunteering in another office is a great way to meet new staff and students. "I wanted to connect to the students directly and thought this was a good opportunity. One of many volunteers who offer assistance, Kaye is a repeat signup, as are many. Volunteers also learn about the offices they are assisting. "It helps me to understand the duties of other offices. I use what I learn to assist students and the campus community throughout the rest of the year," said Elena Compo, ABA's resource analyst.

A spirit of helpfulness is common among all ABA volunteers. "I know the degree of anxiety there is at the beginning of the semester, and I'd like to do all I can to reduce their anxiety by helping them get what the need," added Milburn. Risk Management Analyst Janie Xiong agrees: "I like helping out a department that is very busy. It's usually a simple job, and the time commitment is pretty minimal. It's a win for everyone!" Kirtland Stout, director of Risk Management, volunteers to promote a sense of teamwork: "Helping the SFSC and UTAPS is a way for me to let those departments know that I support them when they need help."

According to Sarah Whyte, senior director of Business & Administrative Services, "This is an important aspect of the ABA culture - teamwork is woven into the fabric of our internal division interactions, and these instances of volunteerism demonstrate how meaningful this can be - not just to the office needing help, but to those who share their time and assistance."

Offices seeking help are strategic in their requests. They schedule volunteers in one to two hour blocks of time, usually focused on a single and/or simple task. Student Financial Service Center (SFSC) volunteers typically distribute OneCard commuter sleeves, answer general questions and distribute OneCard replacement forms. For those volunteering at UTAPS, job assignments may include distribution of PayByPhone flyers or prepaid parking pass pickup duties. These one to two hour windows help volunteers assist, without impacting their own assignments.

Why do these individuals volunteer every semester? Ultimately, they do it because they get a sense of satisfaction from their efforts. "I find this opportunity very gratifying. I would highly recommend volunteering to others," said Hayano. "I feel that I gain from my participation. I learn things I wouldn’t otherwise have known. Being asked random questions by multitudes of new students helps me to learn as well," added Stout.

So, as you can see, there are many benefits to serving as a volunteer, beyond the important task of supporting students. There are personal rewards, including the sense of satisfaction that comes with helping, learning about other office functions and the loyal relationships built from pitching in to help a colleague. Interested in helping out? Keep an eye out for requests for help next semester, or contact Gina Curry or Tony Lucas today!