Student Strategic Planning VISTA

Student Basic Needs Strategic Planning VISTA

The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Social Mobility Pathways VISTA project seeks to increase the social mobility of our low‑income and first‑generation students through a holistic approach with basic needs, wellness, education and career readiness, volunteerism, and service learning. Although the focus is on our low‑income and first‑generation students, all students can be impacted. By offering opportunities and empowering our students to build social capital and knowledge, they will be better equipped for their futures, which will also benefit communities in Omaha.

The project focuses on multiple dimensions of improving students’ access to higher education and their support in higher education through both capacity building and anti‑poverty work.

The Ameri Corps VISTA member will strengthen the University of Nebraska at Omaha's capacity to address student basic needs by developing sustainable systems, resources, and strategic initiatives. The member will research community resources and create an internal resource guide, increase student engagement and leadership opportunities, and develop outreach and communication strategies to improve awareness of available services. They will design proposals for campus‑ and state‑wide strategic plans focused on student basic needs, including recommendations for standardized data collection and dashboards to measure service utilization, identify gaps, and inform decision‑making.

The VISTA will also create proposals, procedures, and toolkits that ensure programs can be sustained beyond the service year, helping the university expand its long‑term capacity to support all students through collaborative and data‑informed basic needs initiatives.

• Education award upon successful completion of service
• Living Allowance
• Childcare assistance if eligible
• Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
• Health Coverage*
• Relocation Allowance
• Training

• Car recommended
• Permits attendance at school during off hours.

• Community Outreach
• Health
• Community and Economic Development
• Education

• Social Services
• Non‑Profit Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Communications
• Education
• Fund raising/Grant Writing
• Public Health
• Recruitment
• Leadership
• General Skills
• Public Speaking
• Community Organization
• Team Work