Getting Started - Students

1. Get Involved in a Student Service Organization - http://cic.rice.edu/ServiceOrganizations
   Student Service Organizations are the easiest way to get started serving the Houston community.  They offer you the opportunity to meet other Rice University students interested in service, learn about the social issues you will be addressing off campus, and (in most cases) either provide transportation or work with you on carpooling.  Rice Student Volunteer Program (RSVP) is the largest of these organizations, with committees offering service opportunities in five areas: Hunger & Homelessness, Education, Health, Environment, and Children.  All Rice University undergraduate students contribute to the service activities of RSVP through a blanket tax ($2.00 charged on your fee bill) and are welcome to participate and help lead their activities.
   
   In addition, there are several other organizations advised by the Community Involvement Center (including American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and Best Buddies) that have service as their core mission.  Finally, there are also "affiliate" organizations (those not advised by the Community Involvement Center, but engaged in service activities) listed on our Student Organizations page, including Engineers Without Borders, Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees (PAIR), and Rice Engaged in Area Children's Hospitals (REACH).
   
   
2. Join Our E-mail Distribution List, GIVE-A-HOOT - http://cic.rice.edu/GIVEAHOOT
   GIVE-A-HOOT is the Community Involvement Center's moderated e-mail distribution list and contains information on one-time and on-going service projects, student service organization events, upcoming programs and speakers, funding of service and community-based research activities, Community Involvement Center program participant and leader applications, and non-profit internship and job opportunities.  This e-mail is sent every two weeks and is your best resource to learn about new ways to get involved.  Archived editions of GIVE-A-HOOT are also available for you to review.
   
   
3. Participate in an Outreach Day - http://cic.rice.edu/OutreachDay
   Outreach Days are one-day service opportunities that give you a wide range of project from which you can choose.  Three Outreach Days are hosted each year by Rice University: O-Week Outreach Day, organized by the Community Involvement Center, and Fall and Spring Outreach Days, organized by the Rice Student Volunteer Program.  While O-Week Outreach Day is restricted to first year students and is part of orientation, RSVP's Fall and Spring Outreach Days are open to the entire campus community.
   
   
4. Attend a Non-Profit Fair
   Volunteer Opportunities Fair - http://cic.rice.edu/VOF
   Good Works Internship and Career Fair - http://cic.rice.edu/GWICF
   These fairs are designed to bring the non-profit world to you!  Representatives from over 40 local, national, and international non-profit organizations attend the fall Volunteer Opportunities Fair and spring Good Works and Internship Career Fair each year.  While many of the Community Involvement Center's program focus on getting you off campus into the Houston community and work with one specific agency, this is an opportunity to meet many organizations at once.  Treat these events as you would any career fair, coming dressed in a presentable and professional manner, and ready to impress prospective supervisors and employers.  At the same time, you will find that many of the representatives value a relaxed work environment and an informal relationship with volunteers.  Take the time to get to know them and the organizations they represent to make the most of the event.
   
   
5. Browse Our Web Site - http://cic.rice.edu
   You have already made it to our web site, now you have to explore!  The tabs on the left side of each page direct you to all of the programs and services of the Community Involvement Center.  Whether you're looking to get involved with a student organization, want to fund a service project, or have a desire to serve internationally, we can help you find a placement and resources to meet your service passions.
   
   
6. Meet With a Community Involvement Center Staff Member - 713-348-4970
   The staff members of the Community Involvement Center are always open to meeting one-on-one with students to help work through available opportunities.  One-on-one appointments will typically start with a conversation about your motivations, skills and abilities, time constraints, transportation needs, and social issues that interest you.  From there, we may be able to refer you to student organizations' upcoming projects working in those areas, but we will also try to identify a more individualized placement for you.  It is important to remember that this is a starting point for you.  Finding the right service placement takes some time and effort on your part; you will need to follow up on referrals, talk to Volunteer Coordinators, and be prepared to talk about what you can offer an organization.  Our goals are to respond to community needs, but also offer you a meaningful learning experience.
   

Community Involvement Center6100 Main MS-200, Houston, Texas 77005-1827       Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1892, MS-200, Houston, Texas 77251-1892

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