COMMUNIVERSIDAD-OUTREACH-AND-VOLUNTEER-PROGRAM Presentation (1).pptx

Extension Program

1. COMMUNIVERSIDAD OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

2. GENERAL POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES

3. Rationale Committed to the institution’s Vision Mission, Core Values, and Guiding philosophy, Communiversidad Outreach and Volunteer Program (COVP) is organized to focus on the immediate intervention, preventive and developmental services implemented either in the university or in the community. The term communiversidad was coined by the Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation Dr. Razeale G. Resultay which means an articulation of putting PSU into the heart of the communities. It was first used in the Bayambang Community-Based Literacy Program which Dr. Resultay initiated. The COVP was proposed by Dr. Resultay and was approved by the Board of Regents through BOR No. 44 s. 2023. It was launched on November 20, 2023 during the REIGn Week Celebration.

4. COVP aims to have an umbrella program for all the outreach and volunteer programs in the nine (9) campuses including School of Advanced Studies and Open University Systems. It sees people as being continually able to move forward in a life-long process of self-realization or fulfilment of potential. It sees people as facing difficult developmental stages, life situations, challenges, stresses and crisis with which they must cope. It is concerned with recognizing and building on strengths with ways of more effective coping. The COVP will create a positive space to nurture and grow brand awareness. This brand will in turn become embedded in positive, life building experiences that in turn build positive brand identity.

5. The COVP is a concept of community and volunteer work consisting of the teaching, non-teaching and students of PSU, in partnership with several stakeholders, that aims to educate, inspire, uplift, and bring joy to the beneficiaries. It could be in the form of seminars and trainings, donations and gift giving activities, advocacy campaigns, or volunteer services. From the framework, it is a university-wide, community-based, needs-based, and volunteerism-centered endeavor. Meaning, this is not academic-based or extension activity. Also, this is not based on ones’ specialization. Hence, a faculty of Education Department may volunteer to plant trees because of his or her interest in plants and environmental protection. The partner institutions will play a significant role in COVP. The sharing of resources between PSU and these partner institutions will result to bigger and better outputs.

6. Furthermore, the Sustainable Development (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations (UN) to end poverty, protect the planet, and promote peace and prosperity for all. These goals are interconnected and broad in scope, addressing issues such as health, education, gender equality, climate change, and more. To effectively achieve SDGs, it is crucial to have widespread awareness and engagement from individuals and communities. This is where an outreach and volunteer program comes in. Such a program can help increase understanding of the SDGs, encourage action towards achieving them, and provide opportunities for individuals to volunteer and contribute to their attainment. COVP can be a powerful tool for promoting and achieving the SDGs. By engaging individuals and communities, fostering partnerships, and measuring progress, we can work towards a sustainable future for all.

7. OBJECTIVES The objectives of COVP are the following: 1. Provide the PSUnians the opportunity to be involved in COVP activities as part of advocating an ecosystem of social responsiveness and volunteerism. 2. Strengthen partnership with stakeholders to implement COVP activities that will respond to the needs of target communities, 3. Build resilient, self-reliant, and sustainable communities in the province of Pangasinan; and 4. Promote diversity and inclusion within the organization and the communities being served through equal opportunities and creation of a safe and inclusive space for all.

8. GENERAL POLICIES 1. Implementation of university-wide, community-based, needs-based, and volunteerism-centered COVP activities. This is not academic program- and specialization-based endeavor. Hence, the engagement of teaching, non-teaching personnel and students from different programs and offices gearing towards enriching the value of sharing or social responsibility.

9. 2 . Adherence to the selection of COVP activities on the basis of availability of resources and those that will respond to the needs of the deprived, discriminated, and disadvantaged. The target beneficiaries shall include but not limited to the following: Farmers Women School children Out-of-school youth Solo parents Persons with disabilities Indigenous Peoples Senior Citizens Migrant workers Persons deprived of liberty and ex-offenders

10. 3.Establishment and strengthening of partnership with stakeholders or Partner Institutions through legally binding arrangements that set out the rights and obligations of each contracting party. The activities contemplated under the partnership agreement must be aligned with the PSU vision and mission. The partners for implement of COVP shall include the following: National agencies Local government units Non-government organizations Private companies Peoples organization

11. Promotion of mutual trust with Partner Institutions to ensure that provisions of partnership agreement are met. 5. Ensure diligent, efficient and effective services to the beneficiaries as manifested in the pre-, during, and post-implementation of COVP.

12. IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES 1. The COVP shall include university-wide, community-based, needs-based, and volunteerism-centered COV projects and activities. The structure and governance the defines the policies and processes within the overall decision-making process of COVP is as follows: The COVP shall be headed by the PSU President, supervised and managed by the VPREI and the University Director for Extension (UDE). The COVP is co-managed by the Campus Executive Directors (CEDs). There shall be a COVP organizational structure. There are to be definite, non-overlapping lines of authority. Only one person is to be responsible for overall implementation and completion of COVP activity and s/he reports to one person from whom s/he takes orders. The chain of command shall follow the organizational structure. All instructions are to be channeled through the proper organizational structure. All decisions involving more than one person are to be the result of consultation with all necessary persons in the organizational structure.

13. 2. The UDE shall provide CEDs the COVP activities every semester or one month before the start of classes for inclusion to Calendar of Activities of interested and community-centered academic programs and National Service Training Program (NSTP) courses. The UDE shall obtain from CEDs a list of COVP activities from different academic programs and NSTP courses as basis for identification of volunteers and the crafting of university-wide semestral COVP Calendar of Activities of the Office of UDE.

14. 3. Committees shall be established and maintained to implement the COVP. Committee such as but not limited to following shall be established and maintained to plan, implement and evaluate the COVP: Policy and Governance Committee Planning and Evaluation Committee Project and Advocacy Committee Stakeholders and Public Relations Management Committee

15. The functions of Policy and Governance Committee are to plan, define, assess and recommend project planning and evaluation tools, project implementation guidelines, stakeholder selection and analysis, and performance evaluation tools. For Planning and Evaluation Committee, it shall prepare, manage and enhance COVP structure, resources, and operational plan; and prepare and disseminate factual and relevant project proposals and activities, needs assessment, feasibility study, meeting discussions and other written communications. The function of Project and Advocacy Committee is to assist the UDE in collection and ranking of COPP activities from different campuses, and the implementation of COVP. For Stakeholders and Public Relations Management Committee, it shall establish and maintain trust and goodwill with external stakeholders. This committee shall also identify the resources and potentials of current and future stakeholders for shared commitment and undertakings to meet the objectives of the COVP and transform the lives of beneficiaries.

16. 4. The component activities of COVP shall be advocacy and awareness campaigns, donation and gift giving activities, and volunteer services. Advocacy and awareness campaigns are activities designed to drive change and raise awareness about issues. Examples are seminar, training, information drives and caravan related to education, health, employment, climate change, disaster and risk, gender equality and others that bring positive change to beneficiaries. Donation and gift giving activities are turn-over of new, unused or used items or equipment to beneficiaries. Volunteer service lies in its approach to volunteerism. This is voluntary act of freely giving time and labor without expecting anything in return. Examples are feeding program, tree planting, coastal clean-up, bantay-kalikasan, technical assistance like computer repair, to name a few.  

17. 5. COVP shall utilize participatory process during planning and programming. Stakeholders shall identify and agree on pertinent details regarding the following: Selection of COVP activities Profiling and community needs assessment Selection of community beneficiaries Implementation period and methodology Allocation and utilization of resources. Monitoring and evaluation   Criteria in selection of COVP are the following: Alignment to vision and mission of both the University and its Partner Institutions Availability and adequacy of resources of the University and Partner Institutions Urgency of the problem Long-term contribution for beneficiaries Cooperative behavior of community members

18. 6. Active participation of teaching, non-teaching employees and students shall be encouraged. For students, such in-depth community engagement can enhance the development of leadership and skills while deepening their understandings of practical, real-world problems. As students work with communities, they learn of the interconnectedness between the classroom, the environment and its systems and the economic needs that must be a part of the solution.

19. 7. The OVPREI shall conduct semestral post-COV meeting organized to discuss stakeholders’ feedback as basis for the improvement of implementation of succeeding COV activities. A system to monitor the implementation and evaluation process shall be established and maintained. In case the community needs another outreach activity based on evaluation results, the UDE and/or a campus shall prepare the needed proposal.

20. 8. To ensure the long-term success and sustainability of our outreach and volunteer program, a Sustainability Plan shall be crafted to outline the strategies and goals for maintaining and growing the program in a responsible and ethical manner. The Goals of the Sustainability Plan are: Maintain a diverse and engaged network of volunteers. Continuously improve the impact and effectiveness of our outreach efforts. Increase community awareness and participation in our program. Secure sufficient resources to support our outreach and volunteer initiatives

21. The strategies of the Sustainability Plan are: 1. Regular Communication and Recognition. Maintaining a strong relationship with volunteers is crucial for the sustainability of the program. A regular communication channels shall be established to keep volunteers updated on activities and impact. Additionally, Recognition and Appreciation Day shall be conducted to recognize and appreciate their efforts or publication through various means such as newsletters, social media posts, and annual volunteer appreciation events. 2. Training and Development. Regular training sessions will be conducted to equip volunteers with the knowledge and skills required for their tasks. The importance of providing volunteers with the necessary skills and tools to effectively carry out their roles is necessary to sustain the program and increase the number of volunteers. Opportunities for professional development and growth for our volunteers will also be explored.

22. 3. Collaborations and Partnerships. To expand the outreach and engage a wider network of volunteers, forging partnerships with other organizations and businesses with parallel mission is required. This will not only bring in new volunteers but also a means to provide resources and support needed to sustain the program. 4. Evaluation and Adaptation. Regular evaluation of the outreach and volunteer program shall be conducted to assess its impact, effectiveness, and efficiency. Feedback from volunteers and community members will be taken into consideration to make any necessary changes and improvements. This will help the REI Division adapt and evolve its program to meet the changing needs of our community.

23. 5. Diversification of Funding. To ensure the financial sustainability of the program, sources of funding will be diversified. This will include seeking grants, sponsorships, and donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations. Opportunities for fundraising events and campaigns will also be explored. 6. Measurement and Reporting. A system for measuring and reporting the impact and success of the outreach and volunteer program shall be established. This will include tracking the number of volunteers, hours contributed, community engagement, and other key metrics. This data will be used to assess the progress towards our goals and inform future strategies.

24. With the implementation of this sustainability plan, the REI Division, through the able leadership of Dr. Razeale G. Resultay, VP for Research, Extension, and Innovation, is committed to building a strong and resilient outreach and volunteer program that will continue to make a positive impact in our community for years to come. The REI Division recognizes that sustainability is an ongoing process and will continually review and adapt our strategies to ensure the longevity of our program.

25. The Missionaries of Charity in Dagupan City is an institution that provides shelter whose primary focus is on serving the homeless, orphaned, elderly, sick and marginalized individuals in the community. This activity is part of the objectives set by the Communiversidad Outreach and Volunteer Program, wherein PSU aims to take part in helping the community not only through academic excellence but also involvement in the lives of the locals.

26. Thank you for listening