University of Miami Parent Guide
William R. Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership Development
Service and Leadership Center
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(305) 284-4483
Volunteer Service and Civic Engagement
The Butler Center actively promotes and advocates for the inclusion of community service, civic engagement, and leadership development in multiple facets of the University experience. The center acts primarily as a clearinghouse by linking students, faculty, and staff with more than 475 community agencies in South Florida and provides groups and individuals with both long- and short-term volunteer opportunities.
There are 45-plus service and advocacy organizations, programming boards, and action committees affiliated with the center that address a range of social issues (see Web site for complete listing). Additionally, the center coordinates the Alternative Breaks Program (UMAB) and the ’Canes Emergency Response Team (CERT). The center publishes a bi-weekly electronic newsletter, the PhilanTropic, which features upcoming volunteer opportunities and highlights service and leadership programs on campus.
Leadership Development
Leadership is viewed in a multidimensional context at the University of Miami. The center believes that truly effective leaders influence others ethically and work toward a common purpose to collectively create positive change.
The center serves as an inclusive, empowering, and innovative body and seeks to afford students new opportunities to develop, enhance, and cultivate leadership skills through curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular experiences. These outcome-driven opportunities will facilitate the development of character, conscience, civility, citizenship, and an appreciation of diversity as well as individual and social responsibility.
The center facilitates self-actualization and the creation of those who are equipped to lead others and themselves in a global society. The Butler Center offers a variety of leadership programs such as the Leadership Development Series, IMPACT, First Year U: Learning, Leadership and Community, the Leadership Summit, and Senior Reflections.
Strive
S.T.R.I.V.E (Serving Together Reaching Integrity, Values & Engagement) Community, a premiere service and leadership program at UM. S.T.R.I.V.E. is a living and learning community and Special Interest Housing floor housed in Eaton Residential College, with all upperclassmen members living on the same floor. S.T.R.I.V.E. members engage directly with the community through service events planned by S.T.R.I.V.E. members.
Additionally, S.T.R.I.V.E. members go through a leadership development program designed to help them develop themselves as stronger and more able leaders. Selected students commit to a lifestyle of a number of service and leadership hours and a mentoring relationship. Additionally, S.T.R.I.V.E. students participate in weekly group house meetings in which speakers from the UM and local community are invited to share their experiences and their expertise. Upperclassmen members live in the S.T.R.I.V.E. Community housed in Eaton Residential College, while freshmen members live in the freshman residential colleges.
The freshman aspect of STRIVE is open to freshmen living in the residential colleges as well as commuter freshmen. The STRIVE program allows participants to develop an increased sense of connection with people who share similar interests, as well as provides students with the necessary skills and tools to become catalysts for social change.
Service and Leadership Recognition
Annually, students are recognized at the Celebration of Involvement Reception where annual campus-wide awards for service and leadership are presented including the Edward T. Foote II Award for Excellence in undergraduate leadership, the Vice President’s Award for Service, and Robert Bates Cole Award for Volunteer Leadership.
