Staff Toolbox

Do you have a desire to get involved in the Year of the City Initiative?  How do you, as a staff person, get involved in the Baltimore City community?  In what ways would you like to bring Baltimore to Loyola?  How do you network with co-workers or others on campus to bring your ideas to life?  Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

• Contact a member of the YOTC Staff Council Advisory Committee.
• Check out the “Get Involved” link on the YOTC website.
• Look over the submitted proposals, as well as the calendar, to see if others are already doing something you’d like to do, then volunteer to work with them.
• Discuss your ideas with your supervisor.
• Check the College's Year of the City Leave Policy.

You may want to get involved by volunteering for an existing program through the Center for Community Service and Justice.

Perhaps you would rather start an initiative yourself.  Here are some things to consider before you submit a proposal:

• Identify the resources you’ll need.
• Organize your thoughts and meet with the individuals and members of other departments who are necessary to make your project a success.
• Do some fact-finding to make sure your project meets a need in the community. This can be done by contacting an agency or school that your project will benefit.
• Discuss your project with your supervisor.  Your project may require a time commitment or resources from your department that your supervisor should know about.  You may want to consider doing a project as a department and getting everyone involved!
• Be sure you are not duplicating an initiative that is already in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my projects need funding?
The Year of the City Committee has limited funding available to support projects related to the Year of the City initiative. Check out the Criteria for Funding.  Some projects require no funding at all but should still be submitted as proposals as a way to let others know about your project.  Other proposals may need only partial funding because they are also funded by departments on campus or through a grant.

How do I submit a proposal?
Please see the example of a completed proposal to assist you in filling out your proposal.

Are there resources that can assist me if I need help?
You can contact the Year of the City Coordinating Committee through this website, or you can contact the Staff Council Year of the City Advisory Committee.  Either committee will be happy to answer any of your questions.

Is there leave time available for me to participate in a Year of the City event, program or initiative?
The College recognizes that full participation in the Year of the City may require involvement in meetings or planned events during the workweek schedule.  For this reason, the College has implemented a policy that allows each staff person to use one paid workday during the 2006-2007 academic year to participate in the Year of the City.  For details about the policy, including important information about how to use your leave time, see the Year of the City Leave Policy.