Badger Volunteers – Tutoring & Mentoring Programs – Morgridge Center for Public Service

Badger Volunteers – Tutoring & Mentoring is a year-long program that connects UW-Madison students with tutoring and mentoring opportunities in Madison and surrounding areas. By committing 1 to 10 hours per week, student volunteers support local youth and adults through academic tutoring support, mentorship, after-school programming, and community events.

This partnership strengthens educational and recreational experiences by pairing college students with community members in need. The program emphasizes consistency and relationship-building throughout the academic year and provides volunteers with transportation, training, and ongoing support, including educational workshops.

Badger Volunteers – Tutoring & Mentoring is open to all UW–Madison students (including graduate students) in any major and any interest! Students have the opportunity to work with a number of community partners:

Madison Schools & Community Resources (MSCR)
Big Brothers Big Sisters
United Way of Dane County, Schools of Hope (K-5) – literacy
United Way of Dane County, Achievement Connections (9-10) – math

Goodman Center *START Literacy Initiative (K-5) – literacy
Urban League, Schools of Hope (6-8) – literacy & math

Madison Education Partnership (6-8) – math
Literacy Network (adults) – literacy
Jamarek Afterschool STEAM Program (K-12) – math
La Follette High School Classroom Support (9-10) – social studies
Monona Grove Tutoring Program (9-12) – math
John Muir Elementary School Classroom Support (K-5)

If you are a Work Study eligible student, you could potentially be compensated for participating with one of our literacy or math programs. If you are interested in participating in Badger Volunteers – Tutoring and Mentoring as a Work Study student, please complete the Interest Form and indicate your Work Study eligibility.

Gain practical experience, develop leadership skills, and make meaningful connections within the community, all while making a significant difference in the lives of young and older people. Empower the next generation and strengthen our local community TODAY!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW YOUR DASHBOARD

Please complete the intake form to indicate your interest and availability so that we can match you with one of our community partners.

MSCR Afterschool ensures that K-5th grade students have access to a variety of fun, safe and inclusive educational, recreational and social activities at their school or neighborhood center

Touch the lives of a diverse group of lively, FUN, elementary students. Act as a positive role model while supervising (and playing with!) children grades K-5, assisting with recreation and enrichment projects, helping with homework, and tutoring basic math and reading. Play and informal social interactions are key components of volunteering!

Register for a site here.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County is dedicated to empowering children to achieve their full potential by fostering strong, enduring one-on-one mentoring relationships across Madison and Dane County. With over 50 years of experience, we utilize research-based methods that have been continuously refined to ensure impactful outcomes. Prospective “Bigs” will be contacted and interviewed by BBBS professional staff for mentor consideration. If selected, “Bigs” will be assigned to one of three school sites (Hamilton MS; Wright MS; and One City Schools). We are seeking “Bigs” that can make a weekly commitment for an hour.

Register your interest here.

Benefits of Service-Learning Reflection

Reflecting on your experience helps you evaluate your performance, recognize strengths and areas for growth, and improve future impact. It deepens your understanding of the world, prepares you to speak about your experience in interviews, and contributes to the program’s ongoing development when shared.

Pre-Service Reflection

What are your expectations for the service-learning project?
What do you hope to accomplish?
What do you expect to learn?
What community needs does your program address? Why do these needs exist in our community?
What are you most nervous/excited about?

During Service Reflection

Why does your program exist?
How do you feel about the work you are doing?
What difference does your service make to this program?
What difference does your service make to the Dane County community?
Is this experience what you thought it would be? If not, how does it differ?
What is the most difficult or satisfying part of your work? Why?

Post-Service Reflection

How did your expectations compare to your actual experience? What surprised or challenged you?
What did you learn about yourself, others, and the community you served?
What skills did you use or develop, and how did you grow personally?
What impact did your service have—on you, your students, and the community?
What values or beliefs were reinforced or challenged through this experience?
What would you do differently next time, and do you plan to stay involved?
Complete this sentence: “Because of my service-learning experience, I am …”

Education Session Theme

Workshops focus on themes of identity development, intersectionality, anti-oppression, asset-based community development and pathways of civic engagement.
We recommend you attend one of these workshops after attending your New Tutor Orientation but before you are matched with a student.

How to Register and Attend Sessions

Internal sessions are planned by the MCPS Community Engagement Team. You can register for an internal education session via a qualtrics link sent out by the Campus Recruiter at the beginning of the semester.

Your attendance will be tracked by the completion of the Reflection Form.

Buddy System

New tutors are paired with returning volunteers in a supportive mentorship circle. Experienced tutors share insights from their own experiences and help guide new participants toward success in the program.
If you are interested in participating in the Achievement Connection Buddy System please reach out to the Achievement Connections Campus Recruiter.

More Information and FAQs

Connect
You can sign up to receive Morgridge Mail, our weekly newsletter which includes volunteer opportunities, events, jobs and internships.

Can I get paid?

Some of these programs are a Work-Study eligible program. Federal Work-Study is not a grant or loan but a portion of your Financial Aid package that is set aside for you to earn at a job. You can learn if you are eligible for a Work-Study program by viewing your Financial Aid package in your Student Center.

Part-time AmeriCorps positions can be available to interested parties. Qualified individuals will receive a bi-weekly stipend (not hourly) and after the completion of the required number of hours, can be eligible for an education award.

United Way of Dane County’s Schools of Hope
Urban League of Greater Madison’s Schools of Hope
United Way of Dane County’s Achievement Connections

Both of these options require in-person tutoring and a greater hour commitment than our volunteer positions. If you are interested in pursuing either of these options please contact the Achievement Connection Campus Recruiter and specify which option you are interested in.

We always accept volunteers if neither of these “paid” options works for you.

How do I get to my school site?

The Morgridge Center for Public Service provides logistical support, including transportation. Mentors & tutors can walk, use their ASM-provided city bus pass, or sign up for a BCycle membership paid for by Morgridge Center.

If a school site is over a 35-minute bus ride, the Morgridge Center will provide transportation via Lyft, ZipCar, Union Cab, and UW fleet vehicles. Please note, the time listed for volunteer hours does not account for transportation to and from the site. Make sure your schedule can accommodate time before and after your shift.

Please reach out to the Literacy Programs Student Intern with any questions or concerns.