Volunteering for University events this summer

This summer will see the busiest ever line-up of University events and activities as Open Days and Graduations return to in-person.

Graduation will see the largest-scale set of celebrations in our history, running three weeks of ceremonies for graduating cohorts from 2020, 2021 and 2022. These events will take place across June and July, concluding just before Clearing - another critical institutional activity.

Your continued support is critical to the successful delivery of these events.

To help us plan this year's events, please use the links below to indicate your availability. A number of dates are available and project teams will work with you to accommodate any particular needs and task preferences.

Don't worry if you haven't supported any of these events before. Training will be provided.

Undergraduate Open Days

Our Undergraduate Open Days take place across four days each year.

We offer prospective students and their supporters an opportunity to interact with our students and academics, explore facilities including our accommodation and Students' Union, and take a tour of our award-winning campuses.

The visitor experience is at the forefront of our events as we offer a range of subject and central activities to provide our prospective students with a real feel for study and life at Reading.

Colleagues like you can help us support in-School/Department activities, car parking for visitors, registering or directing them around our campuses and providing general information.

The Open Days are scheduled for:

• Friday 17 June (08:00-16:30)
• Saturday 18 June (08:00-16:30)

Register your interest to work Open Days (whole and half-day shifts available)

‘I would encourage everyone to take part in the Open Days. It so rewarding to know that visitors leave having had a positive experience that will hopefully make them chose Reading as their preferred place to study. After all, that’s why we are all here; to welcome new students each year and make their time here the best it can be.’ – Christine Whitburn, Event, Partnerships and Commercial Marketing Manager

‘Working the Open Days is a nice change from day-to-day work in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. It is always a positive experience that keeps me connected to our core purpose. I also like working alongside colleagues and students from all over the University. I would definitely recommend this role as you play an important part in the overall visitor experience.’ – Rachel Helsby, Vice-Chancellor's Executive Officer

Graduation

Colleague support is needed to assist in the smooth running of these special days for graduands and their families; they are guests of the University, and we want them to feel welcome and have a great graduation experience with us. 

We all work extremely hard throughout the year to contribute to student life here and graduation is the ultimate end goal. It is not just a happy and celebratory event for students and their families but also an occasion on which all members of our University community can and should feel proud. 

We are therefore looking for people who are willing to help us to greet and host our students and their guests attending on the day, in a variety of roles, from supporting the ceremonies to helping with post-ceremony celebrations, across both the London Road and Whiteknights campuses.

• w/c 27 June (ceremonies Tuesday – Friday 8am-6pm)
• w/c 4 July (ceremonies Tuesday – Friday 8am-6pm)
• w/c 18 July (ceremonies Tuesday – Friday 8am-6pm)

Register your interest to work Graduation (whole and half-day shifts available)

‘You get to share and contribute to a special moment in people's lives. It gets you away from your emails for a few hours. And you get to dress up in ridiculous academic clothing. What's not to love?’ – Pete Castle, External Communications and Public Relations Manager 

‘I would encourage colleagues to volunteer. Our participation is critical to the success of the ceremonies. It is immensely rewarding and a great opportunity to meet colleagues from across the university but most of all join students and their families in their celebrations! – Dr Yota Dimitriadi, Course Leader for Secondary Computer Science

Clearing

Clearing is the route that universities use to fill any vacant places on courses with undergraduate applicants have either changed their mind about what they want to study or received results in their exams that are significantly different to what they expected (either better or worse). It is a very important part of the University’s recruitment and admissions cycle – in some years we have recruited a quarter of our undergraduate intake through Clearing. 

Most activity for Clearing takes place by phone, which means we need a large number of people available to take calls. Experience has shown us that it is more effective to use our own staff for this activity rather than recruiting temps, as we all have a connection to the University and can speak with more authenticity to the experience of being part of the University community. 

• 18 August A-level results day (7.30am-6pm)
• 19 August (8.30am-5pm)
• 22-26 August 9.00am-5.00pm  

Register your interest to work Clearing (whole and half-day shifts available)

‘If I was to try to identify one thing that captures the sense of the University as a ‘community’, the clearing hotline would have to be it. I think it says something special about Reading, and the people who work here, that we are able to make this system work.’ – Pete Miskell, PVC Education and Student Experience

‘The Admissions Team ensure that you are acquainted with the systems beforehand and the team are extremely helpful on the day. Once you’ve answered a couple of calls and made a couple of offers it quickly becomes second nature.’ – Jack Tame, Employer Account Manager, Careers and Professional Development. Henley Business School