University Retirees Volunteer Center

Become a Community Member Volunteer with 

UMN Academic Integrity Matters Program 

The Academic Integrity Matters (AIM) program offered by the U of MN Office for Community Standards is based on the principles of restorative justice to address student misconduct. The program is offered to students who have engaged in scholastic dishonesty and accept responsibility for not complying with the University of Minnesota’s Student Conduct Code.  The goal of the program is to help students better understand academic integrity and the impact of academic misconduct on themselves, their classmates, their families, and the University by working with a panel of University community volunteers composed of current faculty and staff, graduate students, and/or faculty and staff retirees.

Details of volunteer duties: University community volunteers participate in facilitated AIM Community Meetings. At Community Meetings students explain what they have done and how they are impacted by their actions. Community members then share their personal account of how they are impacted by scholastic dishonesty and offer examples of how scholastic dishonesty impacts the broader community. After discussing the incident and impact, community members propose an educational plan that a student can complete in order to learn from the incident and repair harm to the University.  

Dates, times, and locations: The AIM program is flexible. Volunteers may choose as many or as few AIM Community Meeting Panels in which they wish to participate.

• AIM Community Meetings are scheduled 2-3 times weekly by AIM office staff during the academic year, and 1-2 times weekly during the summer.
• Most Community Meetings are virtual via Zoom
• AIM Community Panel meetings typically are two hours in length.
• A training session will be arranged for volunteers to attend prior to their first Panel participation.

Volunteer eligibility and training requirements: Community volunteers are current or retired University faculty or staff. It is helpful if volunteers have an understanding of the student experience and university resources; have an open mind; be able to listen and suspend judgment. The AIM volunteer is supportive, but willing to challenge the student a little deeper so as to better understand the impact of academic misconduct. A volunteer training session, typically lasting one hour is arranged at times convenient for volunteers. Volunteers must have access to a personal computer or tablet with camera and microphone and be familiar with using Zoom.

What to wear: Business casual

Location: AIM Community Meetings currently are virtual via your home computer or tablet. In-person meetings are held in Appleby Hall.

Deadline for volunteer application:  Immediate and ongoing

Click the Sign Up Button below to receive registration information

Or, contact the University Retirees Volunteer Center

by email at URVC@UMN.EDU (preferred) or by phone at 612-625-8016