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Growing a better world, one student at a time
by Suzi Taylor
Kathy Tanner is director of MSU's Office for Community Involvement, which helps connect university resources -- generally students -- with community organizations that need support. The office helps MSU faculty enhance their curricula with academic service learning, and links students with internships, work study and community activities that complement their academic goals. Tanner came to MSU in 1997 after serving as warehouse manager and volunteer coordinator for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, where she said she was "floored" by the tremendous contributions students and the MSU community could offer nonprofit organizations.
Why is it important that MSU facilitate community involvement and service learning?
We're a Land Grant institution. We made a commitment from day one to give back to the people of Montana. In this office, we take these amazing resources -- college students -- and help them channel their energy and enthusiasm into making a difference in the community.
I also think that higher education historically has had a mandate to help develop citizens. The trick is allowing students to define citizenship for themselves. Instead of voting, some students want to get involved with organizations that are addressing issues of concern to them. That's how they express their values, their political leanings, their sense of social justice.
In my mind, it's a really cool thing that the university has a resource like this, and we have faculty members who are interested in incorporating hands-on service work into their courses so that students can express themselves as citizens versus just being here, cranking away on a degree so they can attain a career.
What motivates students to volunteer?
They're multi-tasking. They want to get involved in the community, make a difference, enhance their resumes, and use ideas and skills that were introduced to them in the classroom. And, they're looking for a way to bring that all together and get more bang for their buck, so to speak.
We also have to respect that some students come in here and want to volunteer but they don't want anything to do with what they're studying. They want a break, and that's OK, too.
What trends have you noticed in student volunteerism?
Prior to 9-11, I was already seeing freshmen coming in ready to volunteer, sort of ready-made servants to their community. A great number of them told me that service was a requirement to graduate from their high schools. So there was this growing trend, and it continues to grow.
The generation of students who were in high school when 9-11 happened are coming into our university with the expectation that they will be given opportunities, information, and pointed in directions where they can make a difference. For my job, that's fabulous. It's daunting, but it's a great and wonderful challenge.
What is unique or surprising about MSU students with whom you interact?
What I love about Montana kids is they are so hard-working, put-your-head-down-and-get-it-done kind of people. I never encountered a collective group like that prior to moving here.
I think a lot of Montana kids were raised with the ethic of -- you do what you say you're going to do, you give it your all, you get it done whether you like it or not, because it's gotta' get done, and that's just how it works. These kids, when they're called upon, they do it. If you ask, they will come. They're great to work with.
What advice would you give to a student -- or anyone for that matter -- who wanted to become more involved in the community?
Be very thoughtful before you make a commitment. You have a responsibility to yourself and the organization to whom you commit to be somewhat certain that this is a good fit for you. Be smart about it: research, call people, ask questions. We all have the responsibility to be responsible for our choices and decisions.
I also tell people how easy it is to plug in. There are so many organizations with so many needs. Pick up the phone and start making calls. Be patient, and be persistent. Keep calling or just show up. The reality is that the nonprofits can get so busy that they can't always return calls in a timely fashion.
What is most rewarding and most challenging about your job?
Working with students and being a part of helping them discover how much they have to give. The volunteers learn so much about themselves: their fears, their strengths, their weaknesses, their bias, it all comes out.
The nonprofits will call and say, "Oh my gosh, this student is just blowing me out of the water," and I say, "Yeah, tell me about it, I see it every day!"
The biggest challenge is the financial one -- stretching every dollar to the absolute max. We've become very good about it, because we needed to do that to be successful. I turn it into an opportunity with the students. They learn to be really thoughtful about what we need to spend money on, what can we get donated, what can we make ourselves, how can we use our time instead of our money to get the job done. And they get very creative. You don't have to have a million dollars to do amazing things.
What is your wish for the Office for Community Involvement?
I wish that it will forever be a part of the university and this community. The students have made it clear that this is something they want access to. I would love for it to be able to grow, to be able to do more, to reach more students more effectively, and to better connect the students and the faculty to the needs in the community. I would love to clone myself. I'd also love to be able to sleep only a couple of hours per day. That would be fabulous. I still have so much to do!
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