Get Involved
Are you a student at UM who wants to have a meaningful and rewarding volunteer experience, while making a difference in the lives of fellow students? SARC has several different ways for you to get involved
Undergraduate Opportunities
Peer Advocacy Program
Becoming a SARC peer advocate is an outstanding opportunity to become involved with positive change on campus while learning valuable skills in crisis intervention and advocacy. As a peer advocate working with the Student Advocacy Resource Center (SARC), you will be a part of a program based on the empowerment model, a model where survivors are believed, supported, and given tools to reclaim their power. Upon completion of 40 hours of training and after an approval process, SARC advocates provide emotional support, advocacy, and valuable referrals to survivors.
Peer Advocate duties and expectations include:
Complete 40 hours of SARC Advocate Training and commit to volunteer for 1 school year.
- Ensure confidential communication with all survivors.
- Provide emotional support, crisis stabilization, education and referrals to survivors and their partners, friends, and family.
- Respond appropriately and empathetically to a crisis situation.
- Consistently participate in and learn from constructive feedback.
- Staff the 24-hr support line during the academic year.
- Inform the survivor of options.
- Attend mandatory bi-weekly group supervision meetings.
- Work a minimum of one office shift and one evening/weekend support line shift per week.
- Document all client contacts with appropriate paperwork.
- Adhere to all SARC policies and procedures.
- Remain committed to non-violence and to the empowerment of all survivors.
- Maintain a respectful attitude toward all people regardless of gender, culture, ethnic group, religion, or sexual orientation.
**Independent study or internship credits are available through some departments.**
Peer Educator Program
Becoming a Peer Educator provides you with an excellent opportunity to become involved with positive change on campus while learning valuable skills in public speaking and facilitating social change.
Peer Educator duties and expectations include:
Complete 16 hours of SARC Advocate Training and commit to volunteer for 1 school year.
- Endeavor to help prevent sexual assault, relationship violence, and discrimination amongst your peers at the University of Montana through providing training and raising awareness
- Facilitate trainings on the following topics: Bystander Intervention, First Responder Training and Self-care and Stress Management
- Organize awareness raising activities
- Developing and distribute social marketing material
Independent study or internship credits are available through some departments.
How to apply
Training for both programs take place at the beginning of Fall Semester every year.
After reviewing applications, we will select individuals to interview before training begins in August.
If you are interested in the Peer Advocacy Program, please fill out an Application to be an Advocate. For more information, please call Alison Pepper (406) 243-4556 or email at alison.pepper@mso.umt.edu.
If you are interested in the Peer Educator Program, please fill out an application to be a peer educator. For more information, please contact SARC, at (406) 243-5244 or email Alison Pepper at alison.pepper@mso.umt.edu.
In addition, if you are interested in volunteering at any of our events, please contact us to see how you can get involved at (406) 243-4429.
BSW Practicum Opportunity
Completing a practicum with the Student Advocacy Resource Center (SARC) provides you with an excellent opportunity to become involved with positive change on campus while learning valuable skills in crisis intervention and advocacy. As a practicum student working with SARC, you will be a part of a program based on the empowerment model. Practicum students provide advocacy services to those affected by discrimination, sexual assault, and relationship violence, as well as participate in awareness raising on campus. The BSW student takes a leadership role in the Peer Advocate Program by assisting the Direct Services Coordinator with meeting planning, training, and event coordination.
Direct Service Opportunities
Peer Advocacy: SARC provides academic, reporting, and medical advocacy to survivors of interpersonal violence. The BSW practicum student is involved in direct advocacy for clients by helping them navigate University and community resources and providing emotional support.
Support line: SARC provides a 24-hour support line during the academic school year for students. The BSW student takes on a leadership role in staffing the support line.
Outreach Opportunities
Bystander Intervention, etc.: SARC provides various trainings to campus in the form of hour-long presentations, including Bystander Intervention, Resiliency, and First Responder. These trainings inform students about consent, how to support survivors, and what resources are available for students.
Awareness Raising: SARC hosts a number of awareness raising events throughout the academic year. BSW students help plan events such as the Social Justice Fair and Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming.
Capacity Building
The BSW student will complete a project during their practicum that contributes to campus safety, inclusivity, and the ongoing mission of SARC. The project will be determined by the unique interests of the BSW student and needs of SARC that year. Project examples include hosting a campus event geared toward building awareness about relationship violence, or developing a research project that will benefit the student in one of their classes as well as contribute to SARC trainings or services.
Graduate Student Opportunities
MSW Practicum Opportunities
Having a practicum with SARC provides you with an excellent opportunity to become involved with positive change on campus while learning valuable skills in crisis intervention and advocacy. As a practicum student working with the Student Advocacy Resource Center (SARC), you will be a part of a program based on the empowerment model. Practicum students provide direct services to those affected by discrimination, sexual assault, and relationship violence. Outreach and education are an important part of SARC’s work in creating positive change. Practicum students are encouraged to participate in community consciousness raising activities. If interested in this position, please contact Jen Euell, SARC Director at jen.euell@mso.umt.edu or apply below.
Counselor Education Internship
An internship with SARC provides you with an excellent opportunity to become involved with positive change on campus while learning valuable skills in crisis intervention and advocacy. As an intern working with SARC, you will be a part of a program based on the empowerment model. Interns provide direct services to those affected by discrimination, sexual assault, and relationship violence in the form of advocacy and brief counseling. Outreach and education are an important part of SARC’s work in creating positive change. Interns are encouraged to participate in community consciousness raising activities in addition to seeing clients. If interested in this position, please contact Jen Euell, SARC Director at jen.euell@mso.umt.edu or apply below.
Clinical Psychology Internship
An assistantship with SARC provides you with an excellent opportunity to become involved with positive change on campus while learning valuable skills in crisis intervention and advocacy. As an intern working with SARC, you will be a part of a program based on the empowerment model. Interns provide direct services to those affected by discrimination, sexual assault, and relationship violence in the form of advocacy and brief counseling. Outreach and education are an important part of SARC’s work in creating positive change. Interns are encouraged to participate in community consciousness raising activities in addition to seeing clients.
If interested in this position, please contact Jen Euell, SARC Director at jen.euell@mso.umt.edu or apply below.
