Volunteer Commitment and Requirements

Consistency is crucial to student success and is something that sets us apart. Please read our required commitment carefully before applying:

• All volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

• Volunteering is a weekly commitment that lasts a full academic year (two semesters–Fall and Spring). Our tutoring calendar follows the academic calendar.

• Volunteers are required to tutor weekly throughout the year, with the exception of academic breaks, exam periods, and holidays. Attendance is required and monitored.

• Tutoring sessions typically last 2 hours.

• For in-person tutoring, the tutoring commitment can total 3-4 hours per week including transportation time (transportation can take 30-90 minutes each way).

• Depending on the program, volunteers must have, and bring with them each week, a government-issued ID (passport, state ID, or driver’s license).

• All volunteers are required to attend a Pre-Service Tutor Training as well as a Regional Orientation before beginning tutoring.

• During the semester, volunteers are required to attend at least one event in our Justice Education Series, a Tutor Development Training, and a mid-semester debrief. Until further notice, all required events will be virtual.

• Depending on the program, volunteers may also be required to complete clearance paperwork.

• We highly recommend all in-person volunteers are vaccinated against COVID-19. Some volunteers may be required to be vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination based on their tutoring assignment.

• Regional events and follow-up trainings will be offered throughout the year, some of which may be required.

Transportation

Tutoring sites (jails, prisons, and detention centers) are not always located in easily accessible places. Depending on the location, volunteers travel to tutoring sites by various means including university van, Zipcar, personal car, or carpool. Upon your acceptance into the Program, PGP staff will offer guidance on the most appropriate mode of transportation for you. We reimburse transportation to and from the tutoring sites, so all volunteers must have an active PayPal account to receive reimbursement.

Volunteer Application Process

Thank you for your interest in tutoring with the Petey Greene Program. Our application process begins with the online application. We welcome applications from volunteers affiliated with our partner universities, as well as community volunteers who are not affiliated with our partner universities or are not university students. Previous tutoring experience is not required. The Petey Greene Program provides training both before a volunteer is placed and throughout a volunteer’s tenure.

The Petey Greene Program operates on a principle of inclusion. People of color, LGBTQ people, women, formerly incarcerated people, and system-impacted people with family and community history of incarceration, are strongly encouraged to apply.

The process of becoming a tutor is selective. All tutoring is done on a volunteer basis and no tutors are paid by the Petey Greene Program for their tutoring.

The Petey Greene Program welcomes applications from volunteers who are system-impacted. The Petey Greene Program defines system-impacted as a person who by their own experience, family experience, school experiences, and/or communal experiences has previous interaction or involvement with and who is legally, economically, familially, or psychologically affected by the criminal legal system. Interaction or involvement with the criminal legal system includes arrest and/or detainment, appearance in criminal courts, incarceration, immigrant detention, juvenile detention, parole, and/or probation.

The Petey Greene Program is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its personnel decisions based on race, ancestry, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/domestic partner status, religion, age, disability status, veteran status, or former incarceration status.

Regional Programs

Participation in the Petey Greene Program is a transformative experience for incarcerated students and volunteer tutors alike. To learn more about volunteer opportunities where you live, please click on your regional office.