RESPONSIBILITIES:
The JCSC Fellow plays a crucial role at the University at Albany!
The JSCS Fellow is also a contributing member of the four person Albany Hillel staff. As such, the Fellow actively participates and contributes to weekly staff meetings, plays a part in staff decision making (e.g. anything from hiring of student interns to purchasing of promotional materials), and attends Lay Board meetings as well.
The Fellow is also responsible for verbally and orally presenting the engagement work that is being done on campus at public meetings, and to all those who inquire.
As part of a national team of JCSC Fellows, the JCSC Fellow at Albany is expected to participate on monthly conference calls, compose monthly program evaluations, and complete an end of the year website (like the one you're looking at right now!)
JEWISH LEARNING:
Every JCSC Fellow has the privilege of doing weekly Jewish learning. This stresses the importance of constantly learning, no matter where you are at in life. It also encourages the importance of gaining and retaining Jewish knowledge for application on the job and in one's life.
The JCSC Fellow at the University at Albany has the ability to audit any Judaic Studies course he wants for FREE!
This year, I chose to take Hebrew - Advanced Literature first semester and Israeli Politics second semester. Both of these courses were intellectually stimulating to me!
On top of the learning, taking university classes provides an incredible engagement opportunity. The classroom is full of students (at least on test days) just raring to be engaged. This is the true meaning of meeting the students where they are at.
Next year, I recommend the JCSC Fellow look through the Albany registration guide at the beginning of the semester, and find a Judaic Studies course that will be intriguing, for him.
SUPERVISION:
The JCSC Fellow at the University at Albany is supervised by a "coach." David "Pat Riley" Liebschutz was the JCSC coach this past year. The coaching process involves weekly, closed door meetings in which the JCSC Fellow can express anything and everything of concern and receive guidance from his coach. In addition, the JCSC and coach review target group goals and past and upcoming programs and make sure that the JCSC is succeeding.
In the upcoming year, Aviva will become the coach of the JCSC Fellow at Albany. Her unbelievable mentoring skills will greatly benefit the new JCSC Fellow!
SUGGESTIONS:
- Remember, the Fellowship is not a one-size fits all experience.
Use all of the external resources and advice you receive from international Hillel and the other Fellows, and APPLY them as best fits the Albany Campus!
- Divide your time into buffer/preperation time, focus time and free time.
Time management is a key to success as a JCSC Fellow. Before you go into meetings, make sure you are prepared. If you are prepared, you will best be able to focus when it counts the most! And don't forget to take time for yourself to relax, take a weekend off, or kick out of work for an hour or two before a program. Free time is often as important as focus time!
- Use the local Hillel staff as resources.
David, Aviva and Debbie are all incredible resources that you have at your fingertips every day! Don't be afraid to ask questions - just make sure to listen and absorb new skills!
- Approach things with a "GET TO" attitude rather than a "HAVE TO" attitude.
Every time you say to yourself "I have to" , change the phrasing to "I get to." The job of a JCSC Fellow constantly presents unbelievable experiences that you get to do! Sometimes you might be tired, and feel like you have had enough, but if you change your mental approach, your job will continue to be a consistent delight!
