McMaster Retirees Volunteer Network

Below are titles and brief descriptions of important volunteer opportunities open to retirees of McMaster, in many areas across campus. The commitments and timeframes are different for each role, so you are welcome to pursue more than one opportunity as your interests and schedule permit. If you would like more information about any roles, click on title for the full job description. If you are a retiree of McMaster and would like more information about the Retirees Volunteer Network or to pursue an opportunity, please contact volunteers@mcmaster.ca or call 905.525.9140 extension 21314.

Archival Volunteer - Alumni Advancement/Baptist Archives

Archival Volunteers will assist in maintaining the Baptist Archives and the university social archives memorabilia, to help preserve and showcase the history of McMaster.

Historical Interviewer - Alumni Advancement

Work is underway to publish Volume III of “McMaster University”, covering our history from 1957-1987. As a historical interviewer you will coordinate and execute oral interviews with members of the University community.

Thank You Caller - Alumni Advancement

Thank you calling is part of our stewardship program where you will work with other retirees, members of the University Advancement team, as well as current students, to make phone calls to alumni to thank them for their financial support of McMaster University.

Alumni Tracer - Alumni Advancement

As a volunteer tracer, you will use various research tools to assist in locating new addresses of McMaster University alumni who are currently lost on the Alumni/Development database.

Conference and Event Volunteer - Department of History

The Department of History and the L.R. Wilson Institute for Canadian History plan several conferences and special events annually. Volunteers are needed to support the planning and execution of these events.

Experiential Learning Volunteer - Department of History

Volunteers will work with a team currently planning this program to research potential leads for placements and coordinate and organize meetings to pursue opportunities.

Royal Hamilton Military Institute Liaison Program Leader - Department of History

McMaster’s Department of History is working to develop links with the Royal Hamilton Military Institute. As the Program Leader you will lead this endeavour, including working with contacts at the Royal Hamilton Military Institute, defining programming/event ideas and taking the lead on planning and executing those events.

Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Judges and/or Assistants - Faculty of Science

Each year, McMaster’s Faculty of Science participates in the planning of the Bay Area Science Fair. Volunteers are needed to assist in promoting the event, recruiting students to participate, organizing on-site details leading up to the event and working at the fair.

As well, judges are needed to attend the fair, study and assess each display, and work with other judges to determine winners.

Course Evaluation Volunteer - Faculty of Science

Course evaluations assist the Faculty of Science with addressing teaching and learning issues. Volunteers may assist with distributing and collecting evaluations during class time, sorting evaluations, tallying/compiling/transcribing responses into a useful summary, and assisting with analyzing of data.

Email Recruitment Assistant - Faculty of Science

Much recruitment correspondence is now done by email. Volunteers will assist in attracting students to McMaster through prompt and personal replies to emails, addressing issues such as admission requirements, Level 1 & 2 programs options/details/requirements, career opportunities and facilities, among others.

Undergraduate Lab Volunteers - Faculty of Science

As class sizes and offerings continue to grow knowledgeable volunteers in the labs can help professors and lab coordinators in setting up and closing down lab sessions, assisting students with their learning during the lab and helping professors with other tasks as needed.

Event Volunteers - General Departments/Faculties/Offices

Each year numerous events are held supporting McMaster, its staff and alumni. A small group of ‘on-call’ volunteers that can be contacted for event support as needed, is being formed.

Office Volunteer - Human Resource Services

As a volunteer for HRS, you may provide reception desk coverage, respond to callers and/or visitors, assisting the Employment Services team to prepare new hire packages and job postings, and assisting with other general office duties

Pension Office Volunteer - Human Resource Services

As a volunteer with Benefits & Pensions for HRS, you will support the HRS team by auditing forms and files, reviewing draft benefit booklets, updating the termination database, updating addresses as well as assisting with other tasks as needed.

Admissions Calculation Assistant - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Program

Volunteers will assist with the admission process for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program. Applicant’s averages must be calculated by converting grades from prior university level studies using the OMSAS scale.

Convocation Volunteers - Office of the Registrar

Volunteers are required to assist at the front desk at convocation to meet, greet and direct guests, as well as check tickets.

Document Digitizing Volunteer - Office of the Registrar

Assistance is required with the digitization of student record files and documents in the Registrar’s Office.

Documentation Volunteer - Office of the Registrar

Assistance is required with the documentation process within the Registrar’s Office. Initially, this will involve compiling documentation into binders and creating an organized indexing system, before working with Registrar’s Office staff to determine next steps. 

Video/PowerPoint Creators - Office of the Registrar

Creative volunteers are needed to make a video of the examination administration process and/or to take digital pictures and create a PowerPoint presentation, which could be used during examination staff training sessions.