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• 1001 S. Wright Street
• Champaign, IL 61820
• Phone: (217) 239-3614

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VIS-A-VIS – What is it? How can you get involved?

Vis-A-Vis offers volunteers two different environments in which they can tutor. Your role as a volunteer in the school is to provide a vital instructional service as a one-on-one tutor or classroom aide in the Champaign-Urbana schools.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, here is what you need to do:

1. Make an appointment to meet with a VIS-A-VIS coordinator on the sign up board. This board is hanging outside of our office, which is located inside the University YMCA.
2. Have a TB test done BEFORE my interview. Read here about the TB testing. Pick up a TB test form from our office or get a TB test form online here (68k). (You need Adobe Acrobat to read this file.)
3. Fill out the downloadable application. ( 120k)
4. Bring your completed application to your appointment. A coordinator will review your application and find a match for you.
5. Select if you want to be a Classroom Aide or a One-on-One Tutor.
   • Classroom Aide:
     Volunteers can assist teachers in a variety of ways. Typical duties include leading some classroom activities, working with small groups of students, and helping children that have fallen behind the rest of the class. Classroom Aides can choose to work with grades K-5. Here is a Classroom Aide request form. (You need Adobe Acrobat to read this file.)
   • One-on-One Tutor:
     This option is for volunteers who prefer more one-on-one interaction. They are placed in a local middle or high school where they help a student having difficulties in a specific subject or need help on a more general level. Many volunteers teach their students organizational skills and good study habits. Here is a Tutor request form.
6. Contact my teacher/counselor within three business days of my interview and keep my coordinator up to date with the situation.
7. Return my reference form to the Vis-A-Vis office within ONE WEEK of my interview.
8. Attend one focus group on one of the following dates:
   • Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 7pm in University YMCA
   • Wednesday, December 1, 2004 at 7pm in University YMCA
   • Thursday, December 2, 2004 at 7pm in University YMCA

Goals:

1. To provide school children with more personalized attention.
2. To enhance their school experience while helping them enjoy learning.
3. To provide a unique opportunity for YOU to become involved in the broader community in which you live and benefit from a valuable learning experience.

Responsibilities:

1. You must be reliable and dedicated.
2. You will need communication skills to work with students.
3. You will need to be able to relate to various cultural and socio-economic groups.
4. You will need enthusiasm and imagination.
5. Review membership requirements below for a description of your responsibilities.

As a Vis-A-Vis volunteer, I understand and agree to the following membership requirements. I will…

1. Make contact with my coordinator at least once every two weeks.
2. Be punctual to all of my tutoring sessions.
3. In the case of an unavoidable absence, I will contact my student/teacher.
4. Email my coordinator by the 28th of every month with my hours (tutoring, traveling, and total) for that month.
5. If I participate in a carpool, I will contact the other volunteers if I will be late or unable to volunteer.
6. At the end of the semester, I will fill out the survey and hours request sent to me by my coordinator within seven days of receiving it.

Questions? Concerns? Email us at AskVisAVis@gmail.com.

Updated 09.03.07