Want to Volunteer?
PASEF promotes opportunities for members to serve the University and its surrounding community, helping carry out Penn’s commitment to community engagement that makes a difference in the local neighborhood.
Any member interested in presenting a talk to community groups in their area of expertise is most welcome to sign up for our Speakers Bureau which is getting rave reviews!!
Other recent volunteer options have included assisting with tutoring and/or mentoring students for science fair projects in local West Philadelphia middle and high schools and assisting with grant proposal reviews for Penn’s Global Engagement Fund (see below). At present, volunteering through PASEF for these kinds of opportunities is not possible due to the pandemic. As things get back to the ‘new normal,’ however, we expect to be able to offer options again, so keep checking back! We will announce these opportunities via email when they arise, but you can check this page or contact PASEF (215-746-5972 or pasef@pobox.upenn.edu) at any time for current openings.
Examples of recent volunteer opportunities
- Volunteer Tutors or Science Fair Advisors at Local West Philadelphia Schools: Volunteers assist with math and science tutoring in flexible, time-limited sessions on specific Saturdays in close consultation with the teacher(s). Advising and assisting with Science Fair projects is also possible.
- Volunteer Reviewers for Global Engagement Fund Proposals: Volunteers participate in the review process for proposals submitted to the University’s Global Engagement Fund. Each participant reviews approximately 10 – 12 proposals as part of a peer review committee in the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Initiatives. The time commitment includes about 5-10 minutes to rate each application, using a simple scoring rubric, and then participating in an in-person or on-line peer review meeting for discussion and final recommendations.