With this year being election season and the final months of the 2024 calendar year, many students are getting ready, if they are not already, to volunteer and engage with on and off-campus organizations to be a part of a community they believe in and represent.
Whether students are part of a partisan or non-partisan organization, being involved in volunteer work can be a great tool for them on a college resume, showing future employers how active they were during their time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln — as well as networking with those who may consider them for a job right after they graduate.
But what about those who can’t vote in this year’s election, or feel like groups are too political — like international students — but still want to be involved in the happenings of the Nebraska community during this next month?
Andrew Brown, the assistant director of community engagement at SLICE (Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement), said there are a bunch of ways students can still gain experience and strengthen community relationships this year.
“International students can sign up to serve as dialogue fellows and assist our team with fostering meaningful and transformative conversations around community needs,” Brown said.
For those who may want to be involved in non-partisan activities, Brown also encourages students to participate in workshops like the “Courageous Dialogue Workshop” or Art and Civility Tours.
“Huskers are invited to participate in a ‘Courageous Dialogue Workshop’ located in the Nebraska Union Heritage Room and held on Sept. 26th at 3:30 pm, Oct. 10th at 9 am, and Oct. 24th at 3:30 pm,” he said. “Sessions are designed to foster meaningful and transformative conversations. The workshop weaves together concepts for discourse across differences and provides space to learn effective communication strategies.”
Huskers are also invited to tour the “Voting is People Power” exhibit at the Sheldon Museum of Art, where students can participate in small group discussions to examine and explore social and political norms, values and beliefs through shared dialogue and reflection. Those discussions will be held on Oct. 17th at 4 pm, but students can visit the exhibit during regular museum hours.
Students who want to be informed on this year’s election — along with seeking general knowledge about American voting, should sign up to attend SLICE’s next “Night of Listening” held on Oct. 15th from 3 pm to 4:30 pm in the Nebraska East Union to learn about voting by mail and what will appear on the ballot in Nebraska. To sign up students just need to log into NvolveU and search Night of Listening.
Students can also visit voting booths to learn about upcoming elections in Nebraska and outside of Nebraska. The booths are located across campus and students can learn about when they are occurring by going into NvolveU and searching Voter Registration Booths.
With over 540 Resident Student Organizations (RSOs), students can find a plethora of volunteering options to patch up a resume, or simply get involved.
“Students can stop by the Nebraska Union to participate in Nonprofit in Residence that occurs during the second week of the month,” said Brown. “To learn about the nonprofits visiting students can log into NvolveU and search ‘Nonprofit in Residence.’”
Along with that, students can also sign up to participate in “Engage Lincoln” volunteer experiences that occur during the last week of the month. To sign up students just have to either log into NvolveU and search Engage Lincoln or visit SLICE’s website.
Another volunteer option is to attend SLICE’s monthly “Community Builder Sessions” held on Oct. 16 and Nov. 20 from 5 pm to 6 pm in the Nebraska Union Room 200 SLICE Office to learn about the nonprofit industry and hear from nonprofit leaders. To sign up students just need to log into NvolveU and search “Community Builder Workshop.”
There are always plenty of ways to get involved at UNL. For those interested, head on over to SLICE’s website and browse through all of their volunteering options.