The Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) is an innovative, interdisciplinary, community-university collaborative comprising students, voluntary organizations and faculty/staff administered out of the VSSN office at Luther College at the University of Regina. The voluntary sector is also known as the nonprofit sector, third sector and community-based sector. It includes both registered charities and registered nonprofits. The VSSN program embraces three inter-related themes – learn, research, innovate. The VSSN enables students, voluntary sector staff and volunteers as well as university faculty/staff to become involved in dynamic and mutually beneficial relationships while learning, researching and innovating. We believe that by enhancing connections among these diverse groups, the potential for reciprocal learning for everyone involved is great – indeed, the creation and sharing of knowledge is multi-directional. The reciprocal learning and networking benefits and builds sustainable communities as people move forward and act on these new ideas.

The VSSN facilitates many public events throughout the year for students, voluntary organization staff and volunteers as well as faculty/staff. These events are educational in nature and work towards solving real-world problems that the voluntary sector is currently facing in Saskatchewan (e.g., a public forum on funding models for the sector that struggles with inadequate funding). These opportunities create dialogue among attendees to allow learning from each other and forming relationships.

Three pillars constitute the VSSN: learn, research, and innovate (please see our website for more information www.luthercollege.edu/vssn ).

*Research: VSSN creates a forum in which the voluntary sector and university faculty and students identify and carry out research projects that benefit both partners. VSSN Steering Group members also contribute their guidance and expertise in mentoring these research projects. Two research projects have been completed in the first year of VSSN and are on the website.

*Learn: Learning at VSSN will be both formal and informal and encompasses different models of course delivery: semester-long courses, online courses, webinars, block classes, evening seminars and ‘weekend university’. As already noted, there are three main groups of learners at VSSN: undergraduate students, voluntary sector staff/volunteers, and university faculty and staff. Based on a review of curricular guidelines, new undergraduate courses are being designed for students interested in studying the voluntary sector. Connections are being fostered with U. of R., First Nations University and Campion College in order to bundle together new courses as well as a collection of courses already being offered, to provide students with a new area of specialization, a Certificate in Voluntary Sector Studies. Furthermore, professional development for voluntary sector staff and volunteers is key through exploring opportunities that are currently available in Saskatchewan, identifying what gaps exist, and discerning how to fill them. Lastly, VSSN will provide professional development on experiential learning activities and community-engaged scholarship for faculty through peer mentorship.

*Innovation: VSSN gathers and distributes information and provides a space where new ideas that can benefit the voluntary sector will find discussion and implementation assistance.