FAQs for Prospective Team Leaders
What is the difference between the Aggie Service Scholars Program and the Aggie Service Leadership programs?
These two programs work together. The Aggie Service Scholars Program is designed for students to gain service experience. Students work with a Team Leader. The Aggie Service Leadership Program is designed to provide leadership experiences.
How long does the Aggie Service Leadership Program last?
The leadership programs run year-round. Team Leaders use the program to start their team-based service projects, and they are supported by the resources offered through the program. As a result, the length of anyone participant’s involvement is ultimately their decision, as long as there is continuing support from the Community Partner.
Do I pick my own team members?
Yes. The Aggie Service Program is designed to be an authentic leadership experience. As a result, Team Leaders address challenges associated with all stages of the team-development process, from candidate recruitment and screening to leading your team. Community Partners must approve the number of team members.
Must I identify a Community Partner before registering a project?
Yes. Community Partners must be identified, goals and expectations established before registering. Indeed, it the ability to form a partnership that marks you as a leader. The process is described in Lead a Team.
What are the Team Leader Meetings?
Team Leader meetings are one of the most important resources the Aggie Service Program has to offer for Team Leaders. Team Leaders will inevitably encounter challenges that provide opportunities for them to better their team and grow as a leader. The Team Leader meetings are where participants discuss common challenges, debate solutions, and identify best practices.
How long are the weekly progress reports?
Weekly progress reports are designed to take less than 5 minutes.
What is the “Best Practices” report?
Leading teams often require decisions to be made quickly with limited guidance from your personal experiences or from more experienced peers. Some challenges you face as a team leader require rigorous approaches to not only plan interventions but to honestly evaluate their effectiveness. Rigorously documenting “best practice” you have improvised, tested, and refined also provides the following: 1) evidence of excellence in leadership to earn certification; 2) material that can be disseminated to peers; and 3) archival material for future letters of reference attesting to your abilities as a leader and your value to the program.
For further questions about the program, feel free to email us at aggieservice@tamu.edu.
FAQs for Prospective Team Members
What is the difference between the Aggie Service Scholars Program and the Aggie Service Leadership programs?
These two programs work together. The Aggie Service Scholars Program is designed for students to gain service experience. Students work with a Team Leader. The Aggie Service Leadership Program is designed to provide leadership experiences.
I’d like to register for a team, but I don’t see any open slots. What should I do?
Sometimes our teams fill up entirely before we have a chance to register new projects. The best thing to do is to check back regularly, especially if you are looking towards the end of the semester in preparation for the next semester.
Must I have a high GPA to become involved?
The Aggie Service Program itself does not have any requirements for previous experience, classification, or minimum GPA. However, each team may develop its own set of qualifications. In general, students prove their potential for selfless service by joining the team and providing selfless service. Those who show potential may be asked to return in the following semesters.
How do I join a team?
Once you find a service project that you are interested in, contact the Team Leader and inquire about available positions. If selected as a new team member, you will be notified by email and will be sent a registration form. Team Leaders may accept you into their teams at any point in the year, although most students join well before the start of a semester.
Is there any particular academic level to participate?
No! In fact, the Aggie Service Program Scholars Program encourages undergraduates, graduate students, and professional students to create leadership and service opportunities that match their personal values, learning and professional development goals.
Will I have the opportunity to obtain letters of recommendation?
Students are expected to interact with Community Partners in a meaningful way that allows them to write meaningful recommendations. This is an opportunity to prove yourself outside of the classroom. Of course, it is wise to ask for recommendations well before a deadline!
Are undergraduate participants paid or can they earn academic credit?
The Aggie Service Leadership Program does not provide paid opportunities to participants. It is possible that you may be able to find a faculty mentor who can work with you to link service project to course objectives.
How many hours per week will I have to dedicate to service?
Each project has a different hour requirement, set by the Team Leader in consultation with the Community Partner. Please contact the team leader of the project of interest for more information on time expectations.
For further questions about the program, feel free to email us at aggiereservice@tamu.edu.