Pepperdine Volunteer Center

Volunteer Opportunities

Project Serve Application

Learn about last year's projects in the Spring Break at Pepperdine catalog!

 

Selection Process

It is the Volunteer Center's goal to place each student on a team that has the desire to go on Project Serve. With a few exceptions, we have typically been able to accomplish this goal. During the application process each applicant will have the opportunity to rank their project choices.

Due to the high volume of applicants for international destinations, we cannot match all Team Members to international projects. We strongly encourage applicants to rank highly one or two domestic projects that excite them, in the event that they are not placed at an international project.

Ranking Each Trip

While applicants will be asked to rank each trip, if they are only interested in one trip, they may indicate that in their application. However, participants that limit themselves to one or two trips have a greater likelihood of not being placed on a Project Serve team if others are selected for their trip choices before them. While we cannot guarantee that every participant is placed in one of their top choices, we make every effort to do this.

Team Selection

When building teams we look at a few criteria: good team dynamics, balance of upper and underclassman, and men and women. We also consider each individual's experience level and any specialized training or skills they have. Ultimately, we are looking to build teams that can learn and grow together and truly benefit the community they will be serving.

Interviews

Interviews for Team Leaders will be in the traditional interview style and will be conducted by the Project Serve Coordinators and the Volunteer Center's Assistant Director.  

All Team Member interviews will be group experiential interviews and will last approximately 1.5 hours. These interviews will be conducted by Team Leaders and the Project Serve Coordinators. They are designed to get to know each applicant a little better by seeing how they interact with others. Team Members will also answer a few interview questions in small groups.

Site Revelation

All Team Members and Leaders will attend Site Revelation, where they will learn which project they have been matched with. This event includes the first of the 6 mandatory team meetings for each Project Serve team.

The Commitment

We expect that each person selected to serve on a Project Serve team is highly committed during the actual service experience and during pre-service preparation. This includes full involvement in 6 pre-trip and 2 post-trip team meetings, Site Revelation, Send-Off, fundraisers, other Project Serve events and ongoing communication with the Team Leader. Failure to be a full participant may result in the removal of the member from the team.

Questions? Contact us at volunteercenter@pepperdine.edu.