A List
8/30/04

'BUDDIES' PROGRAM AT SLU CITED AS 'IDEA FOR GOOD PRACTICE'

CANTON – A St. Lawrence University school-based mentoring program that matches 
University students one-on-one with local elementary and middle-school students 
who need extra help academically, socially and/or spiritually has been recognized 
in a manual citing "ideas for good practice" published by the American College 
Personnel Association (ACPA) Commission for Student Involvement.
	The program, called "SLU Buddies," is coordinated by Anne S. Townsend, 
project director of St. Lawrence's David Garner Center for Collegiate 
Volunteerism. 
      The ACPA annually offers a series of Ideas for Good Practice Manuals, 
described as guides "to new ideas in student activities, leadership programs, 
theme celebrations and community service. The goal of this program is to provide 
our members with new and innovative ideas." The SLU Buddies program is included 
in the 2004 manual on community service.
	Recommended to the program by teachers, guidance counselors and others, 
local children who participate meet at least once per week for one hour with their 
"SLU Buddy" during study hall, lunch hour or after school. The children also are 
invited to campus several times through the year, to participate in organized 
social activities. University students who participate are fully trained and 
monitored, and are encouraged to make a full-year commitment to the child they 
work with. Their participation is completely voluntary; no academic credit is 
given for the experience.
	In 2003-2004, the first year of the SLU Buddies program, 48 St. Lawrence 
students participated; almost all will continue in the program this year, with 
more expected to join. Townsend notes, "The unmistakable maturation of the student 
volunteers seems to mark a relationship between student and buddy that is 
resulting in the evolution of both partners."

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