Southern Arkansas University+VISTA has placed 21 full-time fellows in various project areas that has helped them gain professional experience and leadership skills through activities such as fundraising, grant-writing, research, and volunteer recruitment.
Attributes of a Successful VISTA include:
- Understand the importance of the incremental steps on the project plan while aware of the vision of the elimination of poverty.
- Match the project plan to their long-term personal goals- want something out of the experience for themselves.
- Work well with people from a variety of backgrounds.
- Strong networkers within the organization and community.
- Motivated to advocate for themselves and the community.
- Take initiative (self-starters).
SAU+VISTA Fellows serve in the following project areas:
Goal: The VISTA Leader will develop and implement personal and professional training for the VISTA fellows, engage in the recruitment process for the program, and build partnerships on campus and in the community. The VISTA Team Leader will engage with the VISTA team by supporting members in their service and partnering with the VISTA Staff to effectively and efficiently manage the project.
*Being a VISTA Team Leader requires at least one year of previous experience as a VISTA Member.
Mental Health/Healthy Futures
Goal: Increase college completion through programming targeted to student needs specifically related to the mental health challenges (stress, worry, anxiety, etc.) and barriers (lack of money for enjoyable activities, limited access to essential needs, lack of family support, etc.) present due to poverty while in college. The Mental Health Fellow will research and develop a resource guide and self-help library regarding mental health, further build and establish the mental health student organization and
responsibilities, develop strategies to sustain the Relaxation Room, and research diverse populations’ needs and strategies for them to utilize mental health resources.
Food Scarcity and other Physical Poverty-Related Conditions/Healthy Futures
Goal: Increase college completion by reducing the impacts of poverty through coordinating the matching of community resources with students in need. The Mulerider Market VISTA will secure the market with a student organization to reach full sustainability, and develop a recovery program for left over cafeteria food.
Goal: To research and design a student leadership and development organization. The goal of the organization will be to raise money for student scholarships. Money raised by students will be provided directly to students.
Goal: The Magnolia Housing Authority Fellow will develop educational programs for children ranging from k-12 and the elderly living in the Housing Authority communities.
Goal: The Financial Literacy Fellow will further grow and expand SAU’s Mulerider $ense program by developing and implementing educational opportunities, student-lead responsibilities, and program sustainability for both the university and its students.
Campus Community Engagement/Education
Goal: The Volunteer Services fellow will aid in the growth of personal student character
development by updating and creating resources for students to get involved in the community to set themselves apart in their future. Increase the likelihood of college completion by students in poverty at Southern Arkansas University by enhancing student engagement through developing a volunteer/student matching database, and web-based request for services process to be used by students willing to serve and community organizations needing assistance. Facilitate parent information that helps families in poverty better support their college students.
Goal: The SAU Athletic Fellow will assist in developing the new athletic academic advising program; ensure gameday operations, in-game statistics, camera operation, etc. are running as smoothly as possible, and secure volunteer opportunities in the community for student-athletes to participate in throughout the semesters.
Goal: The Digital Marketing Fellow will create a digital still and video content library for the SAU Band Program and the ASBTDC. C. The goal of the band content library is to educate students on the SAU Band program, the financial opportunities presented to them by the band program and other SAU Departments and help provide an additional lens into the SAU Band program for students who may be
worried about affording college or may be unable to tour the campus and its facilities. The goal of the ASBTDC content library is to inform students of the possible side hustles and business endeavors they can pursue based on their selected degrees.
Goal: The Disability Audit fellow will assist in a campus-wide audit, evaluating the current support and learning opportunities available for students with disabilities. Through this evaluation, the fellow will help improve the university’s disability services to better meet the needs of these students, so they can graduate college successfully.
Goal: The Housing VISTA will help develop Team Study as a learning and community opportunity,
implement an Autism Support Network to bring awareness to Autism and provide resources and a community to those diagnosed, and further build the Mulerider Succeed program to reach students’ needs on campus.
Goal: The SAU Foster Care Initiative fellow will build relationships and partnerships with foster care organizations in the surrounding counties; develop a foster care program/community on campus that equips students with life skills, job assistance, and a sense of belonging; research recruiting options for reaching these students; and build ways to get them on the right foot after they leave the home. With
SAU’s slogan “Feels Like Home,” the Foster Care Initiative fellow’s goal is to help those in the foster care system find a sense of belonging and discover their purpose along the way.
Goal: The Mulerider Express fellow will develop additional policies and procedures to better the service and experience of the Mulerider Express, research, develop, and implement a marketing campaign to grow the publicity of the public transportation across the university, and develop a volunteer system and strategic plan for the Celebration of Lights Christmas Event.
Goal: The Compassion’s Foundation Fellow will help improve the quality of services to efficiently perform services to meet their mission by creating a data record format for staff to record client data for reporting, revise and update of all policies and procedures for the shelter, ensuring that they are
trauma-informed and respect clients’ needs, seek additional funding through grants and other available funds, and develop a training program for the Board of Directors.
Goal: The Recruitment Fellow will build relationships with school counselors to educate high school
students about scholarship opportunities and career information, establish recruitment opportunities in lower-income areas and underserved communities, and expand the recruitment experience for high school students looking for college as their next steps.
Goal: The Esports Research Fellow will research and develop a resource guide and self-help library for
Esports competitors regarding mental health and update and further expand the Esports department at SAU by researching unmet needs for Esports students.
Goal: The Boys & Girls Club Education Fellow will develop educational programs for the children, secure volunteers so the club can run as smoothly as possible, develop a sustainable market/food bank for the club, implement a monthly newsletters to parents, and assist in the development and implementation of annual fundraisers throughout the year to help fund the organization.
Goal: The BCGM Athletic Volunteer Fellow will develop a volunteer system that ensures
coaches, officials, and concession workers for the Boys & Girls club athletic programs. They will research and implement a coaching application process and sustainable volunteer management system, build long-term relationships with community members and monitor the growth of the Boys & Girls athletic programs.
Goal: The SAU Donor Engagement fellow will build relationships with new and existing donors, creates content that inspires generosity, and ensure a strong connection between SAU and donors. The SAU Foundation is imperative to the success and retention of college students, as many receive scholarships from SAU. The SAU Donor Engagement fellow will thus further develop and establish the donor process system and experience to ensure partnerships, overall satisfaction, and growth for the SAU
community and its students.
The SAU MRMC Fellow will build relationships with community leaders to develop health education activities and a mental health resource program, identify additional clinic locations in surrounding areas and develop an implementation plan, and work with the finance and accounting staff to identify costs associated with surgical and other high cost procedures within the hospital.
The main goal of the Student Resource Coach Fellow is to empower and support students by addressing challenges hindering their academic and personal growth, and help to provide solutions to economic issues. The Student Resource Coach Fellow will research student needs, provide resources for students, and work collaboratively with the SAU Counseling department.
AmeriCorps VISTA Requirements
- Be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of service; or
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
- Be enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis and be considered eligible for funds under section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091);
- Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
SAU+VISTA Fellow Requirements
- Members will abide by the terms of the drug-free workplace policy and agrees to remain drug-free for the entirety of service.
- Members must have graduated from SAU with a bachelor’s degree; or be entering in their final semester/year with 6 or fewer hours left per semester*.
Compensation and Benefits
There are numerous separate one-year positions available that will follow this estimated compensation plan.
More information regarding VISTA service.
Fellows receive all SAU holidays, 10 personal days, and 10 sick days to be used during the year of service. Health coverage is provided through AmeriCorps.
On-Campus Housing | $3,602.00 |
Meal Plan | $4,040.00 |
Recreation Fee | $150.00 |
Student Activity Fee | $90.00 |
Laptop Use | $1,475.00 |
Sports Pass | $50.00 |
AmeriCorps VISTA (living allowance) | $21,063.84 |
AmeriCorps VISTA (education award*) | $6,895.00 |
Package Total | $37,362.84 |
*to pay cost of graduate school or student loans, or receive a $1,800 cash award AFTER one year of service