Adventure WV VISTA

The VISTA will work collaboratively with Adventure WV (AWV) Center for Community Engagement (CCE) to build capacity and enhance environmental based service projects for the WVU community. Additionally, the Member will work collaboratively with the Adventure WV First-Year Trips team to support various aspects of the First Year Trips, which research shows has increased retention and graduation rates among WVU students. This objective will include overall planning and coordination of the trip model, developing partnerships with local community partners to provide service opportunities for Quest participants, supporting leadership development for the Quest trip model through mentorship and supervision, talking with students and parents (phone and in person), and working with university partners to promote retention. When working with the First Year Trips program, the VISTA will have a special emphasis on overseeing and building capacity for the service-based trip, Quest. Increased capacity for year-round Adventure/Service programming will increase both retention and graduation rates for at-risk, low-income, first generation & STEM students.

Ascend WV VISTA

The VISTA member will assist in developing community engagement and service opportunities for members of the Ascend WV program with the goal of creating meaningful and positive experiences with their new home. This person will also help us to identify ways of supporting and nurturing the community of remote workers that exist in and beyond our program. Additionally, this person will help us foster a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship with local partners and stakeholders by pursuing opportunities for collective engagement. Ascend, WV a remote worker attraction and retention program in West Virginia, aims to not only attract remote workers to the Mountain State, but support them as they relocate in pursuit of a better quality of life, purposeful connection with their chosen community, and an outdoor driven lifestyle. The VISTA member will be a part of the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative at West Virginia University, which manages and operates the program in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Tourism.

MindFit VISTA

WVU MindFit provides academic support and coaching for students living with cognitive disabilities. MindFit also serves students seeking Learning Disorder and ADHD consultations and assessments. VISTA members will the support the program by taking on high level administrative tasks that will help fulfill the goals of capacity-building: creating peer-mentoring programs, communication streamlining, and design of related program materials. The VISTA will have the opportunity for hands-on professional development through interaction with students, acting as a supportive voice and mentor role.