Interested in earning volunteer hours while meeting & interacting with international students from all over the world? Our Global Welcome Volunteers help the Center for Global Learning & Engagement carry out all the planned activities, workshops, and events planned during our new international student orientation program, Global Welcome.
Help Welcome New International Students to UCA !
Ready to bring the world to Conway? 🌎 Join the Global Welcome team and be the first friendly face for our newest UCA Bears! Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or have never left Arkansas, this is your chance to make lifelong friends from across the globe without ever leaving campus. Share your culture, lead the way, and help our newest students find their home at UCA.
Benefits of Becoming Global Welcome Volunteer
Being a Global Welcome Volunteer at UCA is more than just a line on a resume—it’s an immersive experience that shifts your perspective and builds high-level professional skills. Whether you are leading a group as a Team Leader or helping with program logistics as a Program Support Volunteer, the benefits are significant.
Here are the key benefits of joining the team:
🚀 Professional Development & “Career Readiness”
In today’s job market, employers are actively looking for candidates with Global Fluency. This role provides:
- Intercultural Competency: You’ll learn to navigate language barriers and cultural nuances—skills that are essential in any multinational company or diverse workplace.
- Leadership & Crisis Management: You’ll learn how to lead a group through a schedule, answer tough questions on the fly, and solve problems before they become “fires.”
🌏 Global Networking & Social Connection
- Friendships Without Borders: You aren’t just meeting people; you are building a global network. You might have a friend to visit in Japan, Rwanda, or Brazil by the time the week is over.
- The “Global Bear” Community: You’ll bond deeply with your fellow volunteers. The orientation team often becomes a tight-knit “family” that lasts throughout the school year.
❤️ Personal Impact & Fulfillment
- Being the “First Face”: Moving to a new country is terrifying. You have the unique opportunity to be the person who makes a student feel safe, welcomed, and seen for the first time in the U.S.
- Paying it Forward: Many volunteers were once new students themselves. This is a powerful way to give back to the UCA community and help the next generation of Bears.
🎁 Tangible Perks & Swag
- Early Campus Move-in: Volunteer a minimum of eight (8) hours to receive free early move-in to campus housing for the semester.
- Volunteer Hours: All hours can be officially documented for scholarships, Greek life requirements, or honors program service-learning.
- Official Gear: You’ll receive exclusive “Global Welcome” apparel (t-shirts, etc.) that identifies you as a campus leader.
- Meals Provided: Free meals in the Cafeteria throughout the duration of the program.
- Letters of Recommendation: Top-performing volunteers often secure strong recommendation letters from the Center for Global Learning and Engagement staff for scholarship applications, future jobs or grad school.
The “Hidden” Benefit: You’ll realize that despite coming from different corners of the world, we all share the same excitement (and nerves) about starting a new chapter. That realization is a life-changer.
Volunteer Requirements, Positions & Application Process:
- Be a current UCA student with at least one semester completed.
- Be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Be available to attend all scheduled volunteer training sessions.
- Be available to work throughout the full duration of Global Welcome.
- Team Leader — Team Leaders serve as an ambassador, mentor, and guide for new international students arriving at UCA. This role is pivotal in helping students transition into the American higher education system and the Conway community. Team Leaders are responsible for facilitating small-group discussions, leading campus tours, and providing a welcoming environment that fosters a sense of belonging for students from around the globe.
- Program Support Volunteer — Program Support Volunteers provide critical behind-the-scenes logistical and administrative assistance. This role is designed for students who are organized, detail-oriented, and enjoy “making things happen.” Program Support Volunteers will be responsible for the infrastructure of orientation—from managing late arrivals to coordinating evening activities—ensuring that the Center for Global Learning & Engagement can deliver a seamless experience for incoming international students.
- Check-In Day Volunteer — Our Check-In Day Volunteers work side-by-side with the CGLE staff to manage the most important day of the year. You’ll gain hands-on experience handling essential international documents, mastering the check-in process, and assisting with picking up new students from LIT airport. From the first handshake at the gate to the final box moved into the dorms, you’ll ensure our newest Bears have a seamless start to their UCA journey.
Applications will be open for two weeks before interviews are held and final volunteer selected. Complete the Global Welcome Volunteer Interest Form and we’ll reach out to you when applications open!