Role of CFI Volunteers

What is acceptable and encouraged is to hand out CFI materials (e.g., maps, UH-branded pens and other giveaways, etc.) that are supplied in advance and answer questions about your department if asked.

CFI is not an acceptable platform for promoting your department or soliciting for your organization's events, where CFI ceases to be the primary focus for the day. Departments should not have any materials on the table that are not distributed evenly to every table. If you have giveaway items from your department, please bring them to Home Base so we can distribute them evenly among the tables.

Your Committment as a CFI Volunteer

Your commitment to volunteer for CFI contributes to a great first impression for our students, and your fellow volunteers depend on you to fulfill your commitment. To avoid problems in your work area, make sure to get your supervisor's approval before committing to volunteer. Let us know as soon as possible if you need to make a change or if you cannot volunteer for your shift. "No shows" and last-minute cancellations create many difficulties for your fellow volunteers.

Specific Purpose of Cougar First Impressions

CFI volunteers help students find their way around campus, answer their questions, and inform them of campus resources. CFI is not designed to be an Activities Fair where any department spends the day promoting itself.

To reinforce consistency throughout CFI, all volunteers should wear the CFI T-shirt and have the same materials available at every location.

If you have any questions about specific things your department wants to do, please contact any CFI planning committee member.

Event Procedures

You may pick up your T-shirt at Home Base, located at the Cullen Performance Hall loading dock, before your shift on either day. (NOTE: Fall CFI only)

If you are working the first shift of the day, your box will be delivered. Please set out materials on the table for students to pick up. Hang the "Welcome" banner on the tent and put the table cloth on the table.

Please sign in on the Volunteer Master List. Go to the Sign-In section of your table's binder and verify your time and location by initialing by your name. If you are not on the master list, write your name neatly next to your time and location and then initial.

Never leave the radio alone. At the end of the day, we will pick up the radio.

Radio Etiquette: Push the button on the side when you want to speak. Wait 2 seconds before speaking. Release when you are finished speaking. Example:

• Table 12 to Base, over.
• Base to Table 12, over.
• Table 12 needs water, over.
• Base to Table 12, that's clear, out.

Channel 1 will be for all questions, water, Home Base, etc. Always keep it on this channel.

Suggestions? Jot down your ideas and FAQ suggestions in the Suggestions section of your table's binder.

Periodically, write down your tally and the time of that tally on the next page. NEVER CLEAR THE TALLY COUNTER. If your tally counter stops working, use the Tally Count page (next page) to keep track and radio Home Base to bring you a tally counter on the next scheduled delivery.

Do not turn away a student with a difficult question. Check the FAQ section of the binder, and radio Home Base for help with any question you cannot answer. If your radio does not work, consult the Table Locations section of the binder and direct them to the nearest table.

If you are working the last shift of the day, put all excess materials in your box (except for the radio and water) and wait at the table until the radio and box are picked up. Do not leave the radio!

You will receive an email invitation to the CFI Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon after CFI has concluded. If you have not received one by the end of the following week, please contact any CFI planning committee member.

The CFI Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon is generally held several days after CFI. You must bring the email invitation that was sent to you. (NOTE: Fall CFI only)

The CFI Debriefing Meeting is held in the month following CFI. Anyone interested in being a part of next year's planning committee or anyone with ideas on how to make CFI an even better event is welcome to attend. You can also provide feedback to the CFI Co-Chairs listed on the main CFI page.