This FAQ section is a summary of questions made by various age ranges and communities which have been answered by NHI HQ Members!

This is to serve as a quick information resource for ALL volunteers and even contracted staffers. If there are any questions that should be added, please let us know. Information here is subject to change, and is continuously being updated throughout the year.

• "What forms do I need to have completed?"

You will be completing the following forms: Volunteer Agreement and Release of Liability Form for the corresponding year, a Background Check Form, Travel Form, Medical Form, as well as the coursework for Child Abuse, Sexual Harassment Prevention, Stay Safe / Code of Conduct, Ethics, and Professionalism, and NHI Fundamentals. If you are a crossover student attending the LDZ or CWS, then you will need to complete a Parent Release Form and Travel Form as well.

• "I don't have enough recruits, what do I do?"

You can earn credit by hosting meetings, making calls to potential NHI Applicants, and nominating students. Vols need to let us know if they want a list of students to follow up with. Check announcements on our Google Classroom for any opportunities or invitations to meetings. 

• "What if I can not afford to crossover because I was previously sponsored by a school, community, etc.?"

Please remember that any scholarships are given AFTER you've applied to a program. A quick and easy way to talk about this is by emailing admissions@nhimail.com where they can guide you throughout this process. There are also different ways for paying for your program such as gaining donations, fundraising, the 20 for $20 plan, etc. Every school is different but we aim to see everyone succeed and at a program this summer!

• "I am a senior and cannot recruit due to being so busy, what can I do?"

We understand where you're coming from - being a HS senior is a LOT of work and takes up a lot of your time. We offer call campaigns throughout the recruitment season in which you can call prospects who've attended NHI presentations earlier in the semester. Every 3 calls = 1 recruit credit so, calling 15 prospects could earn you 5 credits, which is the minimum amount to complete this requirement. They also range from 9th graders who would attend a GD, 10th graders who would attend an LDZ, and 11th graders who would attend either an LDZ or CWS. If you'd like to participate, please email us as soon as you can because the spots could be filled quickly upon release.

• "I am currently an undergrad...what am I supposed to be doing before March?"

If you are an undergraduate volunteer member or alumni, you must communicate with us asap. Granted, there aren't as many continuous requirements for you all to be working on as there are for high school members; so it could seem as though you aren't expected to do anything right now. If you are an undergrad. that would like to staff a specific program/role - you need to message us at your earliest convenience, as we are going to place key staff members early in 2025. We additionally offer JFL Internships (in-person and remote) specifically for our undergrad. Volunteers. 

• "How do I know if I'm going to the program / am confirmed / drop-proof?

Once you have completed all of the necessary requirements and have been reviewed by NHIHQ, you will receive an acceptance letter to the program you're most interested in. Once YOU give us a "100% YES, I will be attending this program as this role", you will then receive a clear confirmation of your program/role placement. Do not buy tickets until you've directly spoken with an HQ staff member (so, either Reilly Garcia, Julio Cotto, or Nicole Nieto!) Also, please relay all information to Volunteer@nhimail.com (CC any of our NHI HQ members, your regional Project Administrator (PA) or forward it) so I can make sure that it's been entered into our system.

• "How do I know if I am exempt from the $45 Volunteer Fee?"

Those who are exempt from this fee are: Executive Education Directors, Education Directors, Assistant Education Directors, Secretaries of States, Onsite Directors, Assistant Onsite Directors (if not a senior counselor), Parent Chaperones, School Chaperones, NHI HQ Staff Members, JFL College Interns, StaySafe Officers, and all New Mexico volunteers (irrespective of your role).

Those who pay the $45 volunteer fee: JFL high school students, LDZ Junior Counselor, LDZ Senior Counselor, CWS Senior Mentor, CWS Head Coach, CWS Umpire, Assistant Secretary of State, Assistant Onsite Director (if also a senior counselor).

Volunteer Fee

The $45 fee is only paid one time, no matter how many times you will volunteer during NHI's fiscal year. If you are classified in an exempt role in one program and a non-exempt role in a different program during the same summer, the $45 volunteer fee is waived. In the event you pay the $45 fee and you are later invited to serve in a second program in an exempt role, unfortunately we are unable to refund the fee.

• "When should I purchase my flight?"

As soon as you have received your 100% confirmation to attend the program as a volunteer staff member, you may proceed to purchase your ticket. The longer you wait, the more expensive your flight may be, which we all want to avoid! If you are a contracted program staff member, speak with NHIHQ Purchasing for our travel policies by writing to Celeste Polanco (celeste_polanco@nhimail.com). Everyone's plans are different but we are here to help you figure it out! Our NHI Travel Guide for Volunteers is posted above and is updated as we receive more information from our host universities.

• "What days/times do I need to be on campus/at the program?"

ALL Volunteers are expected to be at the program on DAY 0,which is the day BEFORE the participants arrive. EXAMPLE: If you are a JC for a LDZ program that begins on July 15, you should schedule your flight to arrive one day earlier (Day 0) on July 14, preferably landing by 10am-11am to allow time to check in. (Please get lunch at the airport or on the way to the campus.) Depending on your role and your assignment by NHIHQ, some staff arrive 2 days earlier (Day 00). Unless otherwise stated, arrive on Day 0!

"Who do I report to, what can/can't I do, and what is the Duty of Care?"

Staffing an NHI program carries with it the duty of care. When you commit to service, you must remain on the campus and be mentally and emotionally dedicated to the students and program activities the entire duration of the program. Your actions and behaviors can positively or adversely affect your students' experience. Your duty to care about the wellbeing, safety, and growth of each student is our request of all staff members, both paid and volunteer, at the programs.

At a program, your ultimate boss is/are the Education Director(s). The chief of staff to assign duties and responsibilities is the Onsite Director. You are expected to fully participate in all activities of the program, and may not take time away from program participants' needs for personal reasons that conflict with the program schedule. Examples include: departing program activities for personal reasons without the consent of your ED/Onsite, fraternizing with others for extended periods of time thereby not closely following student development and program progress, disappearing from program activities without seeking authorization from ED/Onsite, scheduling online or in-person courses/classwork/meetings during the program, leaving your post early without approval due to school or job requirements. 

Please free yourself of other duties and responsibilities beginning on (Day 00 or 0) and at least through 10am on the last day of the program, unless you have coordinated with EDs or Onsites to be away from your duties for short periods of time. A skeleton crew of volunteers stay on campus until ALL students have left the program on the last day. If you can get a flight after 3pm on the last day of the program, you can help get all the students safely checked out and help your Onsite/EDs wrap up.

• "How do I maintain consistent communication?"

Contacting us personally is your best mode of communication. My email is reilly_garcia@nhimail.com and I receive automatic notifications for our Google Classroom as well as agreement and medical submissions (NHI uses an electronic fillable link). For quick and direct communication, call us at 512-357-6137. There is also our Discord server, where you can privately ask an NHIHQ member any question.

• "How can I participate in a recruitment opportunity?"

Please message us directly if you are wanting to participate in the call campaign opportunity that can earn you recruitment credit. You can also reach out to family members that have 9th-11th graders, your friends, your friend's siblings. Lastly, holding presentations either at your school or within your community is a great way to gain recruits. Feel free to ask us for good contacts who may be able to help you within your own community such as those in Nevada, California, the northeast, midwest, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Texas regions, etc.

• "How can I track my progress as a volunteer?"

The easiest and quickest way to track your progress as a volunteer by reviewing your bi-weekly status updates (these are emailed around the 1st and 15th of every month). The information is drawn directly from our internal system so it's possible there could be a mistake at times, such as an incorrect recruit # or that you haven't crossed over when you actually have. We have found that the usual causes of any incorrect information are TYPICALLY from an incorrect User ID # being listed, prospects not listing their recruiter's name, or a recruiter's user ID wasn't added. 

• "Do we need to pay for housing, meals, and travel on our own?"

NHI volunteers do NOT need to pay for housing or meals. NHI will cover the cost of your dorm room as well as your 3 meals per day during the program at the university. NHI does NOT cover your flight ticket, travel to and from the airport, for LDZ/CWS one dinner meal, or anything additional that you may want such as snacks, drinks, souvenirs, etc. Our best advice is to bring some extra funds with you for incidentals. Also, keep in mind that some programs do provide things such as transportation to/from the airport, so please make sure you are in constant communication with your program manager, EDs, and Onsites.

• "How can I help NHIHQ?"

If you're interested in helping us out, please sign up for a call campaign! As we roll through recruitment season, it's crucial that we have an all hands on deck attitude. By helping HQ, you can also receive the credits necessary for staffing!

• "What if I can't volunteer this summer because I am too busy / have other commitments?"

You need to let NHIHQ know as quickly as possible so we can make the note that you've withdrawn for this summer. This will allow us to select an alternate volunteer. You can still of course volunteer locally during the school year or even next summer if you decide to jump back in - just let us know what's going on so we can try to assist if needed.