Hosting a Great Post-Grad Service Fair – Advice from Top Schools

Every campus is different when it comes to the ways they volunteer and encourage students to consider post-graduate service options, but every school can take steps to make their service culture even stronger among students and staff.

Below are some suggestions from CVN's Top 10 Schools for Service. These schools were chosen based on feedback from CVN member programs. Recruiters were asked to identify the best campuses for service, including the best post-grad service fairs and the schools from which they reliably get volunteers.

After identifying these schools, we interviewed their staff to understand what qualities make their fairs - and their broader service culture on campus - particularly great. Their tips and suggestions are below.

Before the Fair

Utilize digital advertising like email blasts and social media.
Add to a public-facing community service calendar.
Coordinate with local colleges for event date. (*CVN is in touch with campuses across the country and can assist with this effort. Get in touch with us at recruitment@catholicvolunteernetwork.org).
Ask students to register for the event in advance.
Invite students individually who may be interested in or particularly well suited to service.
Advertise at Mass or in bulletins emailed or handed out during Mass.
Reach out to students/faculty of specific majors who may be interested in service: education, nursing, social work, peace and justice, etc.
Offer testimonials from alumni who are current volunteers (in email/social media marketing or as a projected slideshow during the fair).
Schedule a pre-fair event which helps students prepare, formulate questions, and offers basic information on many of the programs that will be attending.
Welcome recruiters on campus prior to the event.
Classroom presentations (sign-up sheet to attend event circulated).
Alumni and former volunteers offer reflections on social media and in an email newsletter.

During the Fair

Ask students to sign/swipe in when they arrive.
Paper surveys (distributed to students, recruiters, or both).
Provide good food to all who attend.
Make an effort to ensure recruiters/organizations feel appreciated.
Times of fairs vary. However, most indicate evenings as best. Some schools also schedule during “open hours” mid-day when no classes are scheduled.
Make sure that there isn't a conflicting event drawing a similar population of students at the same time.
Choose a high-traffic location like a student center, but try to find a separate room in the building rather than putting recruiters in a walkway/hallway.
Project a Powerpoint slideshow during the event of all graduates in the past 10 years who have done post-grad service with photos, names, and the program they participated in.
Raffle prizes with swag from volunteer programs.
Include a discernment portion to the fair where students can meet with campus staff at the beginning (or in advance) to identify organizations they might be interested in.
Offer more opportunities for conversation and Q&A (For example, “Dinner includes tabling and also a panel for staff/faculty who served as post-grad volunteers.”)

After the Fair

Send follow-up emails with CVN links.
Once in the fall and a couple of times in the spring, send out emails to seniors asking if students have considered post-grad service.
Invite recruiters to speak to campus staff if interested.
Offer to take students to coffee and have one-on-one, in-depth conversations about their interests and options.
Offer a post-fair program to help students process the fair, ask follow up questions, look at applications, and figure out what the next steps are.
Schedule a general discernment workshop/retreat, and use it to consider post-graduate service.
Host dinners for students at local volunteer houses.
Offer info sessions/conversations/lunches at which recent grads share about their service year.

Building a Service Culture

Application and Resume Workshop hosted by a post-grad service program.
At Commencement Liturgy recognize those who commit to serve in the military, religious life and post-grad service.
Create opportunities for all students who do an immersion trip or service during the semester to reflect on how to live their experience out in their lives (including post-graduate service).
Host an office Snapchat account with current volunteers who post about their current post-grad volunteer experience.
Send a list of staff/faculty on campus who did a year of service out to interested students.
Provide programs with names of faculty to connect with regarding classroom presentations.
Extend the event beyond the fair. (For example, “Fair is included in day-long Post-Grad Service Day. The Day consists of tabling, class visits and dinner. Faculty and staff wear ‘Ask me about my post-grad service’ buttons.” Or “Fair takes place during the University's Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. If held during an Awareness Week, make sure that students/faculty see it as one of the week's events instead of something separate.”)
Post-Grad Volunteering and Finances workshop with Financial Aid Office.
Campus staff provide classroom presentations (from a few minutes to a full class period).

A Note from Catholic Volunteer Network

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