OSARP provides the unique opportunity for JMU faculty, staff, and students to give back to the community in a variety of volunteer positions. This page provides an overview of each of the volunteer opportunities in OSARP. For more information, please contact our office.
Volunteer opportunities:
Accountability Board Member
What is the Accountability Board?
Members of the Accountability Board act as the original decision making body for cases in which a student is alleged to have violated policy as identified by the OSARP. These panels evaluate evidence, apply policy, and weigh the perspective of the Responding Party and other participants to determine if the Responding Party is responsible or not responsible for violating policy and, if necessary, assign sanctions for the case.
Who can be an Accountability Board Member?
Faculty members, staff members, graduate students, and undergraduate students can serve on the Accountability Board. For more details on the eligibility requirements of Accountability Board Members, please see the "Accountability Board" section of the Student Handbook.
What is the time commitment for being an Accountability Board Member?
Members can serve as their schedules permit; cases range in length of time depending on the amount of witnesses, the complexity of the evidence, and/or the severity of the case. While this is a flexible service opportunity, OSARP requests that Board Members provide availability to serve when they are able.
Prior to being an Accountability Board Member, interested individuals must complete a training provided by OSARP.
Why should I be an Accountability Board Member?
Being a member of the Accountability Board is a rewarding way to uphold our values and expectations at JMU. It is service to our university and our community and a way to use your voice as a member of our campus. You will interact with students in a very different role and have the opportunity to support and challenge students for their current and future success.
OSARP is more than willing to provide verification of service to the university for a Board Member; many professors applying for tenure have included their Board Membership as “service to the university.” Additionally, Accountability Board involvement can be a valuable resume-builder for students as they gain several transferable skills.
How can I get involved with the Accountability Board?
Please contact OSARP staff at OSARP-Boards@jmu.edu.
Faculty and staff interested in serving on cases alleging violations of Sexual Misconduct or Title IX Sexual Harassment as part of the Sexual Misconduct Accountability Process or Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudication Process must first be trained and serve as Accountability Board members and complete additional, annual training.
Mentor Experience (for faculty, staff, and graduate students)
What is the Mentor Experience?
The Mentor Experience program offers a unique opportunity to faculty, staff, and graduate students to work one-on-one as mentors to undergraduate students. It provides students the opportunity to develop a relationship of mutual respect and trust with their mentor. Students meet weekly with their mentor and are free to discuss any number of topics including, but not limited to:
- Personal values
- Life at JMU
- Common interests
- Time management
- Academic and career endeavors
- Opportunities for involvement at JMU
Students will also work with their mentor to create a personal mission statement. The mentoring pair will then identify short and long-term goals and strategies for achievement that can be implemented during the relationship as well as after the mentoring experience has concluded.
Who can be a Mentor?
Faculty members, staff members, and graduate students can serve as a Mentor.
What is the time commitment for being a Mentor?
Mentors can serve as their schedules permit. Students are assigned to complete the Mentor Experience program for a period of 8, 10, 12, or 15 hours typically over the course of a semester. Mentors and students assigned to this program work together to find a time that works for both to meet, which often occurs for approximately 1 hour per week. Mentors may also choose to go inactive for a period of time and become active when they are ready to resume their role in the program.
Prior to being a Mentor, individuals interested in the program must complete a training provided by OSARP.
Why should I be a Mentor?
Most volunteers enjoy mentoring for several reasons:
- Helping a student receive education for violating the code of conduct
- Building your resume
- It is a flexible time commitment
- Chance to encourage and facilitate student growth
- Talk with students about decision-making and promote their well being
- Build a one-on-one relationship with a student in a context that you may not otherwise experience
How can I get involved with the Mentor Experience?
Please contact the Assistant Director for Educational Programs.
Moving Forward Facilitator
What is Moving Forward?
An educational program designed for students who have violated the university Sexual Misconduct and/or Title IX Sexual Harassment policies. This is a 15-hour program involving regular meetings with a faculty/staff facilitator for in-depth discussions and reflection activities guided by a workbook.
Who can be a facilitator?
Faculty and staff members can serve as a facilitator for this program with appropriate training. Typically, experienced Mentors from the Mentor Experience participate as facilitators for Moving Forward.
What is the time commitment for being a facilitator?
Facilitators can serve as their schedules permit. Students are given approximately one full semester to complete the program; this may change depending on the needs of individual circumstances. Facilitators and students assigned to this program work together to find a time that works for both to meet, which often occurs for approximately 1 hour per week.
Prior to being a facilitator, individuals interested in the program must complete a training provided by OSARP.
Why should I be a facilitator?
Most volunteers enjoy facilitating for several reasons:
- Chance to encourage and facilitate student growth through education on healthy relationships
- Talk with students about decision-making and promote their well being
- Build a one-on-one relationship with a student in a context that you may not otherwise experience
How can I get involved with the Moving Forward program?
Please contact the Assistant Director for Educational Programs.
Restorative Practices Community Representative
What is Restorative Practices?
Restorative Practices is derived from the larger theoretical framework of Restorative Justice. The philosophy behind Restorative Justice considers the importance of harms created during a conflict or violation, the needs of those impacted by the conflict, the obligations of the person who created the harm, and the engagement from community members who might be directly or indirectly affected by the harm. OSARP uses Restorative Practices to address instances of conflict that arise in the community, but these practices may not always align with traditional Restorative Justice approaches.
Community Representatives participate in facilitated conversations to provide their perspective regarding the impact different types of behavior has on them as members of the community.
For more information on Restorative Practices, visit the Restorative Practices section of the Student Handbook.
Who can be a Community Representative?
Anyone affiliated with the JMU or Harrisonburg/Rockingham community may participate as a Community Representative with the approval of Restorative Practices staff.
What is the time commitment for being a Community Representative?
Community Representatives can serve as their schedules permit; facilitated processes can range in length of time depending on the number of participants. Typically, a facilitated process will be scheduled for at least two hours.
Prior to being a Community Representative, interested individuals must complete a training provided by OSARP.
Why should I be a Community Representative?
Being a Community Representative is service to our university and our community, and a way to use your voice as a member of our community. You will interact with students in a very different way than you might otherwise and have the opportunity to support student development.
How can I get involved with Restorative Practices?
Please contact Restorative Practices staff at osarp-restorativepractices@jmu.edu.
University-Appointed Advisor in the Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudication Process
What are University-Appointed Advisors?
University-Appointed Advisors are persons trained on the Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudication Process and are chosen at the university's discretion to serve as an Advisor to a Respondent or Complainant as needed. University-Appointed Advisors are provided to the Respondent or Complainant for the purpose of conducting cross-examination during a case.
Who can be a University-Appointed Advisor?
Faculty and staff who have completed the necessary training through OSARP can serve as a University-Appointed Advisor.
What is the time commitment for being a University-Appointed Advisor?
University-Appointed Advisors can serve as their schedules permit. Cases range in length of time depending on the amount of participants and other circumstances, but typically last for several hours. While this is a flexible service opportunity, OSARP requests that University-Appointed Advisors provide availability to serve when they are able. University-Appointed Advisors are expected to be available for the duration of the case review if they respond "yes" with their availability for a case. University-Appointed Advisors may also work with a Respondent or Complainant going through the Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudication Process prior to the case review at the agreement of the party and the University-Appointed Advisor.
Prior to being a University-Appointed Advisor, interested individuals must complete several hours of training provided by OSARP.
Why should I be a University-Appointed Advisor?
Being a University-Appointed Advisor is service to our university and our community. You will interact with students in a very different way than you may otherwise in your current role. Additionally, OSARP can provide verification of service to the university for a University-Appointed Advisor.
Further, per Title IX regulations, the university is required to provide a University-Appointed Advisor to a Respondent or Complainant going through the Title IX Sexual Harassment Adjudication Process as needed. Individuals serving in this role help the university meet its legal requirements.
How can I get involved as a University-Appointed Advisor?
Please contact OSARP staff at OSARP-Boards@jmu.edu.
