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The following information is helpful to us in selecting and assigning volunteer roles, planning training, and collecting data for evaluation. Any information you provide us will be completely confidential. Qualified applicants are considered for positions regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or marital status. Thank you for your interest in literacy!


Due to current circumstances, your volunteer experience may be entirely remote.

A typical volunteer shift is 2 hours long
Which day(s) and time(s) are you available to volunteer?

Emergency Contact Information
In the event you begin volunteering at Open Door, please provide the name and number of an emergency contact.

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Volunteer Tutor References

In an attempt to ensure that we provide the best possible service to adult learners, we require that each new tutor provide references. 

Please include two people, at least one of whom knows you in a professional context (including a work or volunteer supervisor, professor/teacher, religious leader). An automatic reference request will be sent to the email provided immediately. Please tell your references to expect this email.

Reference 1






Reference 2






Background Check
If yes, please explain the nature of the crime and the date of conviction and disposition. (Conviction of a crime is not an automatic disqualification for volunteer work.)
To ensure the safety of participants, staff, and other tutors, Literacy Minnesota conducts a background check on all applicants. Do we have your permission to run a background check?
Agreement
I declare that the information on this form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.  I understand that any false or misleading information given by me can disqualify me from consideration or result in dismissal at a later time.  I understand that completing this application does not guarantee my acceptance as a volunteer, nor does it obligate me to accept a volunteer assignment.  I further understand that Literacy Minnesota provides no auto insurance coverage for volunteers, and further does not agree to cover me for any legal liability arising out of my work as a volunteer. I permit the Literacy Minnesota to to contact the references I provided within this application to complete credential references. 

Page 3 - Demographics

This section is voluntary (select "prefer not to answer" for any questions you do not wish to answer), and any information you provide us will be completely confidential. The information collected is used to monitor our success at attracting and maintaining a diverse volunteer corps in order to better serve our communities. It is also used in our annual report and for the purpose of writing various grant proposals.

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Volunteer Tutor Code of Conduct

The Volunteer Tutor Code of Conduct is a set of rules and guidelines in order to create a safe, respectful and effective learning environment at Literacy Minnesota's Open Door Learning Centers. Volunteers are required to agree to and follow the Volunteer Tutor Code of Conduct.


We, as Open Door staff, will...

  • Be respectful, leave judgment behind and keep an open mind regarding each student, volunteer, their family, culture, beliefs, values and priorities. 
  • Provide a welcoming and supportive environment in which to volunteer.
  • Provide resources and tools for your volunteer role.
  • Help you understand the amount and types of work required for a given volunteer opportunity.
  • Be accommodating and understanding.
  • Accept and respect your lifestyle and culture.
  • Encourage you to reflect on your goals as a volunteer.

I, as a volunteer, will...

  • Be respectful, leave judgment behind and keep an open mind regarding each student, staff, their family, culture, beliefs, values and priorities. 
  • (If volunteering online) I may see into a student’s home and personal life. I will respect their privacy and refrain from making judgmental and/or critical comments and giving unsolicited advice to staff, learners and other volunteers.
  • Follow through with my volunteer time commitment. I will be regular and consistent with my attendance, and arrive on time.
  • Contact my Learning Center coordinator and teacher if I cannot show up for a volunteer opportunity that I am committed to.
  • Understand that if I am absent or tardy more than 3 times in the span of a month, I will be asked to reconsider my commitment. 
  • Educate myself on the skills needed for my volunteer role.
  • Be a good representative of Literacy Minnesota and Open Door  while volunteering.
  • Work with us to find volunteer opportunities that fit your interests and skills.
  • Complete the MN State - mandated volunteer Foundations Training within the proper timeframe, unless otherwise exempt.
  • Contact my learning center coordinator with questions or concerns.
I will NOT...

  • Use sexist, racist, homophobic, prejudicial or vulgar language and humor. 

  • Attempt to evangelize, proselytize, convince or convert students to religions, political beliefs or personal values other than their own. 

  • Engage in harassment of students, other volunteers or staff, which includes all forms of sexual touching, sexual relations or romantic relations. 

  • Socialize with students outside of the learning center or Literacy Minnesota-sponsored activities, including texting, calling, video-chatting or meeting in-person outside of tutoring appointments without consulting my learning center coordinator. 

  • Take photographs, screenshots during video calls and/or video or audio recordings during in-person and/or remote tutoring sessions, without explicit permission from my learning center coordinator.

  • Use Literacy Minnesota’s facilities, computers or other resources for my personal gain or benefit. 

  • Use Literacy Minnesota’s computers to access sexually explicit or pornographic content.

  • Come to my volunteer site or remote tutoring session under the influence of alcohol or illegal chemical substances. 

  • Share my personal information (phone number, email or address) with my students without my learning center coordinator's permission and guidance.

  • Use personal contact information of students or other volunteers for any purpose other than tutoring.

  • Transport students in my personal vehicle and/or accept a ride from a student. 

  • Give and/or accept gifts from students, beyond small tokens such as food, candy or greeting cards. 


If you find you are uncomfortable with these guidelines for any reason, please immediately speak with your learning center coordinator. There may be other behaviors that are not spelled out here that push the boundaries of your relationship with students. When in doubt, be cautious and contact your learning center coordinator with questions.

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Navigation Guidelines

The learners participating in Open Door classes have various and often pressing needs. Some may ask for more support than volunteers are prepared to provide. Even if the need expressed by the learner seems urgent, we must respect privacy and confidentiality at all times. The following boundaries regarding navigation initiatives ensure relationships between volunteers and the learners are supportive, safe for all and in alignment with Literacy Minnesota/Open Door Learning Center’s mission.


The following activities are ALWAYS okay:

  • Listening with empathy to what a learner is experiencing

  • Kindly denying a request by saying, “No. I am sorry, but I cannot help you with that. I will tell [insert coordinator name] that you need help with this.”

  • Researching the most relevant social service agency to refer the learner by asking the learning center coordinator for recommendations

  • Researching the eligibility requirements and application process for a benefits program and sharing information with learners

  • Supporting learner self-advocacy by preparing the learner to contact an agency. 

  • Checking in with the coordinator regarding any concerns you have about a learner’s requests or needs

The following activities are NEVER okay:

  • Giving financial advice (this includes giving, lending, receiving money)

  • Giving medical advice or diagnosing a medical condition

  • Tutoring anyone under the age of 18

  • Giving legal or immigration advice

  • Filling out ANY social service or government benefits paperwork

  • Applying for public benefits on behalf of a learner (housing, food, utilities)

  • Requesting confidential information like Social Security Number, immigration status, personal contact information

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Due to current circumstances, your volunteer experience may be entirely remote.
Please click "Submit" to complete your form.