CFI Volunteer Binder - University of Houston
Skip to main content

Staff Council

CFI Volunteer Binder

CFI Volunteer Binder

Cougar First Impressions will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021, and Tuesday, August 24, 2021. 

 

This year's CFI theme is “Back like we never left! Resilient!”

Thank you for volunteering! 

All volunteers (in-person and virtual):

CFI VOLUNTEER GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Helpful information and updates for volunteers will be posted here.

Volunteer T-Shirts

You can pick up your volunteer T-Shirt at one of the following times and locations:

  • Friday, Aug. 20, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Room 58, MD Anderson Library, in the basement. The front door faces the Student Center South building.
  • Monday-Tuesday, Aug. 23-24, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.: CFI Home Base at the Cullen Performance Hall loading dock. Please pick up your T-shirt before your shift.

Volunteer Support During CFI

CFI Home Base is available to support volunteers in answering questions and providing information to students that cannot be answered by volunteers at the tables or on MS Teams. We will use the resources we are provided to answer these questions and report back to the tables via radio and to virtual volunteers via the volunteer channel on MS Teams.

VOLUNTEERING FOR IN-PERSON CFI

  • Volunteers Must Read!

    Following is what to do as an in-person CFI volunteer:

    • Arrive at your shift early.
    • Sign in by using the QR Code for volunteers: CFI Fall 2021 Volunteer Sign Up (MS Form)
    • Never leave the radio alone! At the end of the day, we will pick up the radio.
    • First shift sets out the materials.
    • Water will be delivered throughout the day. Make sure to leave water for volunteers.
    • Call Home Base if you run out of a particular give-away. We may have more and will bring you anything that is available.
    • Don't pour out the melted ice water from the buckets! Even after the ice has melted, the cold water will help keep the bottled water cool.
    • Keep a count of all questions and record the total from the counter at the end of each shift. Do not erase the tally counter. If your tally counter does not work, use hash marks on a piece of paper or another method of counting. Record your shift count by using the CFI Fall 2021 Question Tally Count (MS Form).
    • Do not turn away a student with a difficult question! Check the resources on this page or call Home Base.
    • Call Home Base with schedule questions! Home Base has access to the online schedule.
    • Be proactive! Don't wait for students to approach you. Ask them if they need help or want water. Welcome them to UH.
    • Keep hydrated! It's hot out there!
    • Sanitize your area! Volunteers will have access to PPE supplies in the box.
      • Wipe down your table area and supplies with disinfectant wipes at the beginning and end of each shift.
      • Limit access to the radio to one person per shift. Wipe down the radio using the disinfectant wipes at the beginning and end of the shift.
    • Last shift puts materials back in the box! Do take down and put the banner in the box (we have had some stolen). Do not put the radio or water in the box. Wait for someone to pick up the radio and box.

  • Announcements

    CFI In-Person Volunteer Training

    Please review the 2021 CFI Volunteer Training. Key elements have changed this year to maximize volunteer safety.

    CFI Table Locations

    This year CFI will have tents in key locations across the UH, UH at Sugar Land, and UH at Katy campuses.

    These interactions will follow the university's COVID-19 protocols to ensure Coogs a safe welcome to campus. Updates regarding CFI will continue to be posted here.


    CFI Volunteer Special Recognition

    You are in the best position to observe the performance of your fellow volunteers. While every CFI volunteer has gone above the call of duty by participating in CFI, some volunteers go even further. We would like to know and recognize the special things our CFI volunteers do. Please identify the extra efforts of your fellow volunteers by nominating them for Cougar Cudos.

  • Safety Tips

    COVID-19 and Campus Safety

    Visit the UH COVID-19 website to receive the most up-to-date information.

    The University of Houston continues to encourage the wearing of face coverings, especially for individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

    Volunteers may only participate in this year's Cougar First Impressions (CFI) if they do not have any of the symptoms listed at the Coronavirus Symptoms page.

    Volunteers will follow all UH COVID-19 Visitor Protocols

    For more information, review the UH COVID-19 Guidelines & Protocols

VOLUNTEERING FOR VIRTUAL CFI

  • Virtual CFI Channel

    CFI's virtual event will connect students to resources available on campus, UH at Sugar Land, and UH at Katy with live breakout rooms in Microsoft Teams addressing key areas students most inquire about during their first week on campus

    Virtual CFI will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021, and Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

    Visit the CFI General Channel (Microsoft Teams)

    +1 346-352-9827   United States, Houston (Toll)

    Conference ID: 791 743 869#

  • Volunteer FAQs

    Volunteering for CFI but not sure what to expect? Here is information about what Virtual CFI will look like.

    This year there will only be a room for General Questions where we will assist from Home Base and have volunteers from all over campus helping out.

    Volunteers will have access to a private Virtual CFI Home Base channel to communicate with CFI leadership and ask questions about their breakout room's topics.

  • Microsoft Team Breakout Rooms

    Tips on using Microsoft Teams

    Volunteers are asked to join their assigned breakout room 15 minutes before their shift begins.

    Coming soon -Volunteers can download a Virtual CFI banner to use as their background. It is optional for volunteers to have their web camera on during Virtual CFI.

     

VOLUNTEER RESOURCES TO ANSWER STUDENT QUESTIONS

About CFI

  • Leadership

     

    Cougar First Impressions Co-Chairs

    Ashley Brown
    713-743-6330
    anbrown@central.uh.edu


    Paul Scott
    713-743-8241
    pscott@central.uh.edu

     

    Interested in joining the CFI committee?
    Please contact this year's CFI Co-Chairs.

  • Mission


    • Create a sense of community amongst staff, faculty, and students by providing new and returning students with resources and quality customer service at key areas on the campus grounds during the first and second day of class.

    • Increase the retention of students at the University of Houston.

  • Objectives


    • To promote student success.
    • To develop an annual program implemented by Staff Council in alignment with the university's mission.
    • To give Staff Council members the opportunity to exhibit leadership skills.
    • To create a sense of community among staff, faculty, and students.
    • To increase the retention of students at the University of Houston.