Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Community Fellows
Haas Community Fellows Program
As a public business school, we must convey the truth that the creation of opportunity is meaningless unless we share the opportunity with others and that adhering to any fundamental ethical standard is not a luxury.
~ Tom Campbell, Former Dean, Haas School of Business
Purpose
UC Berkeley is built upon and for the express purpose of serving the greater community. The Haas School of Business is in the unique position of offering a top-ranked program within a public university. Incorporating this inherent relationship between business education and community involvement, former Dean Tom Campbell, with the MBAA and the EWMBAA, launched the Haas Community Fellows Program in 2003.
The program was developed to maintain and enhance a long-time tradition of Haas students giving back to the communities in which they live and work. The program encourages students to engage in community issues by formally acknowledging those who do so, reinforcing Berkeley’s reputation as a public school that builds its foundation in and for the community. A Haas Community Fellow can take pride in the title, as it showcases a necessary aspect of successful business leadership.
Qualification and Application Process
Any EWMBA student who completes 50 hours of community service over their three years of education at Haas qualifies to be recognized as a Haas Community Fellow. Any student who intends to apply for the program should register with the Community Service Committee when their volunteer hours begin. Registered students should then keep track of their community service hours by filling in the Haas Community Fellows spreadsheet. Students are responsible to submit the final application and spreadsheet to the Community Service Committee. The required number of community service hours and the final application are to be completed by April 15th of the graduating year.
Recognition
All Haas Community Fellows will be recognized in the commencement program. The student in each graduating class who performs the most volunteer hours will receive special recognition on stage during the graduation ceremony, along with a plaque honoring this achievement.
Classification of Community Service
Students must receive no compensation for hours counted toward fellows status.
Beneficiaries of students’ service must be classified as non-profit organizations under the 501c3 guidelines. In special cases, other nonprofit organizations (501c4, 501c8, etc.) may qualify with pre-approval.
Time spent in service to Haas (committee service, club memberships, etc.) does not count toward volunteer time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I include volunteer work outside of Haas events?
YES! Students are encouraged to volunteer in whatever capacity is meaningful to them. Please record and report hours spent serving the community through any nonprofit organization that falls under the IRS 501c3 classification.
Do Berkeley Board Fellow hours count?
YES! As long as students receive no academic credit or compensation for board participation, service through any board, including the Berkeley Board Fellows program, is eligible.
What about nonprofit organizations that are not 501c3 classified?
Some organizations may be eligible even if they are not 501c3 classified. Examples include volunteer fire departments and fraternal organizations such as Elks Lodge. Volunteer hours with these organizations must be dedicated to charitable activities and must be pre-approved by the community service committee.
Who can participate in the Community Fellows Program?
The program is open to both the MBA and EWMBA students. Each program operates independently, but fellows will all be recognized at the joint program commencement ceremony. One student in each program will be recognized on stage for having the highest number of volunteer hours in their program and graduating year.
Can I include work in student organizations?
No. Serving in student government or organizations is part of the benefit of attending Haas. Service to the school is extremely valued, but does not emphasize the need for business leaders’ involvement in the greater community. Please do not include volunteer hours spent planning activities for Haas or attending club meetings or events.
On a sidenote: We are in the process of implementing an easier tracking system that will utilize the student directory interface. We're not quite there yet, so be sure to keep your hours for now, and we'll let you know as soon as it's up and running!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Upcoming Events!
We do, however, have two amazing events this weekend! These events are a collaboration between the Full-Time and EWMBA programs, with one in Alameda and one in SF. This is an excellent opportunity to meet some Full-Time classmates while doing something to help the community.
Keep in mind these also count toward the 50 hours of volunteering required to graduate as a Haas Community Fellow!
The Events:
(Both on Sunday, November 15)
Alameda Point Collaborative, Alameda (10am-1pm)
Volunteers will work with APC to help prepare rooms for the Thanksgiving brunch and in the Ploughshares Nursery preparing the demonstration garden.
http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/VAOGRSQQFJHYUQVAEGCD/alamedapoint
Urban Sprouts, San Francisco (9am-noon)
We'll work on a school garden helping build a compost area, worm bin, and new garden bed. Make sure to wear long pants and closed toed shoes. They will have all the tools and supplies that you will need but bring your own water bottles!
http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/MXTSHQKXAFFGKNXMGCBM/urbansprouts
The events are open to both programs, but there's a limit on volunteers, so sign up ASAP!
We look forward to seeing you there!
