After Office Hours Program Needs Volunteers

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 14, 2011) − The Division of Student Affairs Office of Residence Life at the University of Kentucky is committed to fostering an environment where faculty and students can effectively learn inside and outside the classroom. To promote this goal, the Office of Residence Life with the Division of Student Affairs is sponsoring an event that sends faculty and staff into the residence halls in order to extend their time dedicated to students.

Combining two former programs into one, the Office of Residence Life staff introduces After Office Hours. Formerly known as House Calls and Ask an Advisor Day, After Office Hours is a building initiative designed to reach out to all students at UK and give them an opportunity to meet with key and influential members of the UK community.

Trisha Clement- Montgomery, the assistant director of academic initiatives, believes in the goal of the program and has witnessed its success. “Our goal with this year’s After Office Hours program is simple,” Clement said, “to let our students know that the UK community cares about them and their success at our great university. We show that we care by taking the time to interact with them outside of a classroom or office setting.”

After Office Hours creates an atmosphere where faculty and students can engage in academic pursuits on a more personal level.

“Last year, 88 percent of students felt more welcomed at the University of Kentucky as a result of participating in the program. Please consider joining us in our efforts to increase that number to 100 percent this year,” Clement said.

This event allows first-year-students a chance to build relationships with faculty and staff early in their college career and to create a network that they utilize in the future. Faculty members who sign up to take part in this event will connect with students about college classes as well as their overall experience at UK. Dates for the program include:

·     Tuesday, Oct. 25 , 5:30-8:30 p.m., meet in the Student Center (for halls on North/Central Campus)

·     Wednesday, Oct. 26, 5:30-8:30 p.m., meet on the third floor of the Commons (for halls on South Campus)

There will be a dinner orientation at a designated location before the event both evenings. Office of Residence Life will be able to escort faculty and other volunteers to residence halls to begin After Office Hours. Volunteers might prepare themselves to answer the following:

·       Academic advising

·       Academic resources

·       How to make contact with a faculty member

·       How to be involved on campus

·       Campus safety

·       Personal needs, etc.

For those interested in volunteering or learning more about the program, contact Trisha Clement-Montgomery at trisha.clement@uky.edu or call (859) 257-4784.