Volunteer Standards Agreement 2025-26

Each year Junior Achievement staff shall convey these standards in writing to all volunteers prior to their first visit to the classroom. Staff shall review these standards verbally, as well, with volunteers teaching for the first time.

 

Junior Achievement (JA) serves youth. JA volunteers teach valuable lessons in their program delivery and especially in their conduct with students. Adult misconduct with or in the presence of youth carries serious consequences. Because Junior Achievement cares that its volunteers have healthy, appropriate relationships with the youth they serve, it has established the following standards.

 

1.   Young people look to adults for examples of appropriate behavior. JA volunteers must use appropriate language and model honorable behavior, such as respect, integrity, honesty, and excellence. Profanity or sexualized language or jokes, and conduct (including speech) that discriminates against students on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, religion, or other legally-protected classes are inappropriate, regardless of whether it occurs face-to-face, over the Internet, or by any other means.  JA strictly forbids violating any state law regarding interactions with youth; for example, providing them alcohol or legal or illegal drugs, or coaxing them into illicit relationships over the Internet or otherwise.  Any form of physical or emotional abuse, to include striking, bullying, harassment or other degrading behavior is strictly prohibited.

 

2.   Volunteers should avoid all contact with students beyond a business handshake.

 

3.   Interactions with students must both be appropriate and appear appropriate. It is expected that volunteers’ interactions with students are at all times appropriate and professional and are strictly related to the role of business mentor. It is unacceptable to seek or engage in one-to-one meetings or private communications with students at any time.

 

4.   Volunteers are responsible for the quality of interactions. Students often find it difficult to state discomfort or objections. Volunteers must be especially sensitive to physical and verbal cues that youth provide.

 

5.   Volunteers will be presenting, facilitating and discussing various programs, content and ideas with students that are likely owned by JA, its licensors or the students. A primary purpose of the JA programs is to encourage creativity by the students. By working with JA and the students, Volunteer agrees that they do not obtain any intellectual property rights therein, will not seek ownership in or to contest those intellectual property rights, and will not attempt to secure trademark, patent or other intellectual property rights or registrations therein without prior written consent from Junior Achievement USA.

 

The aforementioned standards do not represent a comprehensive list. Other actions not included could result in suspension or dismissal as a volunteer. JA volunteers also must read and comply with JA’s Digital Media Policy.

 

Junior Achievement takes all complaints of misconduct seriously. Credible allegations of misconduct will be promptly reported to the appropriate authorities. During any such investigation, the JA volunteer will not perform services as a JA volunteer. If an investigation determines misconduct occurred, it will result in the immediate and permanent dismissal as a JA volunteer.

 

Any JA staff member or volunteer who reasonably suspects misconduct must report these suspicions immediately to the appropriate JA staff person within their JA Area. 

The JA Volunteer Media Release and Consent authorizes JA to use your name, image, and likeness as a JA volunteer. You are also agreeing to grant JA a license to use any materials or content you create and/or supply as a JA volunteer for JA's use with its programs, and you are confirming that such materials do not infringe or violate the rights of anyone else. Signing this Acknowledgement, you confirm you have read the JA Volunteer Media Release and Consent, and you agree to and accept its terms and conditions.

In order to ensure the health, safety, and success of JA students, volunteers, and staff, this Digital Media Policy sets forth expectations and standards for digital interactions that JA volunteers and staff have with students and others.

 

ONLINE CONDUCT

JA volunteers and staff must communicate online appropriately, professionally, and respectfully, just as JA would expect them to communicate if they were present in person. Profanity, sexualized language, jokes, or images, communications about adult topics, drugs or alcohol, and conduct (including speech) that discriminates against students on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, religion, or other legally-protected classes are inappropriate, whether it be in written communications, streaming video, or otherwise over the Internet.

 

It is expected that volunteers’ online interactions with students are strictly related to the role of business mentor. JA volunteers and staff must limit their communication with students solely to official JA-administered or JA-sanctioned platforms, and meetings and other interactions with students on a one-to-one basis should be avoided. Volunteers and staff should not “friend,” “follow,” “add,” “accept,” or privately correspond with students online or through any digital channel, including via text, e-mail, or any social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. Any online misconduct or conduct that falls below the standards expected by JA can result in immediate and permanent dismissal as a JA volunteer.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA CONDUCT

All online actions, including on personal social media accounts, should be presumed public. Followers may record or take screenshots, making even private communications and accounts—and even deleted posts—susceptible to being shared publicly.

 

The only social media interaction with students should occur through a JA-administered social media platform as part of a JA program and with the consent of students’ parents. JA volunteers should not communicate with any students through any platform not directly controlled by JA. Admins, editors, and account holders of JA social media accounts must keep all personal social media separate from the JA social media profiles they manage.

 

FACTUAL CONTENT

Information can spread quickly online and can easily be misinterpreted or taken out of context. Any posts that reference JA or link to a JA website should reflect JA in a positive light and include only accurate public information.

 

PHOTO USE

Taking unauthorized photographs/videos of members or participants, guests, volunteers, students or children is prohibited. JA volunteers and staff should refrain from sharing these photos/videos, whether on personal social media accounts or otherwise. If pictures are needed for JA’s website, flyers, social media, etc., they are to be taken by designated/approved staff only and must be accompanied by a signed photo release form to be kept on file.

 

Two or more JA volunteers/staff must have access to “admin” status on each Official JA Profile. Each JA volunteer/staff who manages or has access to Official JA Profiles will provide the username and password to the social media profiles to the local JA office.

 

JA volunteers/staff agree to cooperate in good faith with JA to ensure that JA has the ability to access and control all Official JA Profiles. Any JA volunteer/staff who reasonably suspects misconduct related to social media or any violation of this policy must report these suspicions immediately to the appropriate local JA representative.

I have received copies of Junior Achievement's Volunteer Conduct Standards, Volunteer Media Release & Consent, and Digital Media Policy and have read, understand, and will abide by these standards. 

By signing this, I hereby certify that I have never been charged with violence, or any type of charge involving a child or young person, or, if I have, that I have fully disclosed in writing the facts regarding such a charge to my local JA Area.