Follow your colleagues and volunteer for commencement
It’s not too late to volunteer for next week’s commencement ceremonies. Faculty and staff volunteers help make Charlotte’s commencement ceremonies successful and enjoyable for our graduates and their guests. Vicki (Doolittle) Fortney, associate director of community partnerships for urbanCORE, and Kevin Parsons, director of advising for the College of Computing and Informatics, volunteer every semester. We greatly appreciate our volunteers! With your valuable help, we can ensure a positive experience during this momentous occasion for our graduates, guests and University.
What is the most rewarding part of your job at Charlotte?
V: I enjoy being part of a compassionate team that works toward a common goal, to not only make a difference on campus, but have a positive impact on the greater Charlotte community.
K: The most rewarding part of my role as director of advising is helping students solve complicated situations and seeing them reach their goals.
Why do you volunteer at commencement, and what has been your role?
V: Commencement might be the most important day for a college student, and it is up to Charlotte staff and faculty to help ensure that this is a memorable occasion. I typically assist with the ADA special seating, a critical part of the process for our graduates’ families and friends. Having the opportunity to contribute to this experience for more than five years has been an honor.
K: I volunteer at commencement to see the outcomes of my work as a student advisor. I intentionally ask to serve in an area where I will see graduates.
Why should fellow faculty and staff volunteer for commencement?
V: Volunteering for commencement is an excellent opportunity to celebrate this important milestone with the students, as well as a chance to collaborate with fellow Niner colleagues. In a way, this is the reason we’re all here. It truly is a “feel good” experience!
K: Commencement is a happy and positive day! It’s heartening to see the supportive families and friends arrive, and students are so excited. There are lots of smiles and warm greetings.
What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?
V: I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Maine, also known as “Vacationland.”
K: I skipped my undergraduate commencement ceremony for various reasons but regretted it. Maybe that has inspired me to assist with Charlotte’s commencement.
Additional information about volunteering for commencement
Volunteer orientation
Orientations for all ceremonies will take place virtually Monday, Dec. 9. During this time, you will learn more about what to expect during the ceremonies and will be able to ask questions. There will be time on the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 11, for those who would like to do an optional in-person walkthrough of the Barnhardt Student Activity Center.
Attention SHRA employees
SHRA employees subject to the Fair Labor and Standards Act who were regularly scheduled to work on Saturday will not be entitled to additional compensation or compensatory time off for hours worked simply because Saturday duties were shifted to support commencement, unless the time worked generated a normal overtime situation for the week.
SHRA employees subject to the Fair Labor and Standards Act who were not normally scheduled for Saturday work are authorized to receive overtime compensation or compensatory time off if the hours worked for the week are sufficient to generate the overtime situation. Such employees will be paid from funding in the department to which they are assigned. The rate of overtime compensation will be based on the employee’s normal salary.