Volunteer Opportunities

As an alumnus of OAC, you have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can make a real difference to students as they take the first steps towards careers and life after graduation.

Consider donating your time for one of the student-alumnus activities listed below.

Career Development in Agriculture

Responding to alumni and employer advice on the skills that are important in today's workplace, the Career Development in Agriculture program in BSc (Agr) prepares students for the real world of work. Employer/alumni involvement is critical to the program's success.

There are several volunteer opportunities available:

Career Development Workshops

These activity-centered workshops help students develop skills that will guide them through the many key areas in developing a career.

Alumni are invited to assist in the presentation of four workshops: Career Planning, Working a Job Fair and Resume Writing, Job Interview Skills and Portfoilio Development, and Preparing for the Workplace.

If you would like to participate in the Career Development Workshops contact the OAC Dean's Office.
Experiential Education Sponsor

Students are encouraged to gain a number of targeted, semester-long work experiences that complement their academic studies. These are more than summer jobs. Students are required to report on some aspect of their work experience, and cooperating employers participate in the evaluation component of the students' work and reports.

Details of the activities to be included in the program are outlined in a learning contract initiated by the student and approved by the faculty supervisor prior to the commencement of the work experience. The employer will also provide a description of the project and /or work experience.

Traditionally students take their summer work experience as the desired experiential opportunity but the option is flexible and can be considered at other times of the year.

If you are interested in participating, contact the OAC Dean's Office.

Career Week

Each year during the last week of January, the Student Federation of the Ontario Agricultural College (SFOAC) presents a comprehensive Career Week. Alumni act as guest speakers on their area of expertise in the agri-food industry throughout the week. Clubs such as the Animal Science Society, Agricultural Economics & Business Society, Horticulture Club, Landscape Architecture Student Society, Food Science Club and Diploma students invite alumni to speak at their particular events. The finale of the week features the Aggie GoodTimes Banquet. To volunteer as a speaker for Career Week, contact the SFOAC Office at 519-824-4120 ext. 58321.

Convocation

Do you have fond memories of your convocation and wish that you could repeat the experience? Well now you can…almost. The OAC Alumni Association has established a tradition of having alumni present the graduating students with their degree or diploma at Convocation.

Participating alumni are resplendently dressed in the OACAA's distinctive convocation regalia. It's a meaningful experience for graduating students to be welcomed into the OAC family by an alumnus.

To volunteer for convocation duties contact Morag Stewart.

OAC Ambassadors

Do you love talking about your time at OAC? Why not share your experience with students who are still in high school and considering their options for post-secondary education? Share your knowledge of the multiple career opportunities available for graduates of OAC.

To become an OAC Ambassador in high schools in your area, contact the OAC Dean's Office.

Alumni in Action

This is an organized group of retired alumni, faculty and staff, many from OAC, who support students and the University in a variety of ways, including:

  • Volunteer work in the Library on archives
  • Hosting events for international and exchange students and their LINK partners to welcome them to the University of Guelph
  • Volunteer reading for a program that tapes textbooks for the use of students with disabilities
  • Interviewing alumni and faculty for the oral history project

If you would like to become involved with Alumni in Action, contact Morag Stewart.