About Rutgers University Camden

Rutgers University Camden is a four-year R2 research university located in Camden, New Jersey. It is one of three Rutgers University campuses, part of the “oldest, largest, and top-ranked public institution in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.” Rutgers-Camden offers 38 undergraduate majors and 29 graduate programs. The institution is committed to public outreach and currently holds the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.

About Public Health AmeriCorps

Public Health AmeriCorps was created by AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “to support the recruitment, training and development of a new generation of public health leaders.” Public Health AmeriCorps awarded $90 million in grants in 2023.

Partnership Description

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Rutgers-Camden are required to complete a clinical rotation in community health as part of the Clinical Health Nursing course. Since becoming a host site for Public Health AmeriCorps in 2021, Rutgers-Camden now places some students in AmeriCorps roles to complete their required clinical experiences. These students earn academic credit for AmeriCorps service and qualify for AmeriCorps benefits including a living stipend and education award. In 2023, the Public Health AmeriCorps program at Rutgers-Camden received funding for 130 Abbreviated Time (100-hour) slots and 15 Minimal Time (300 hour) slots.

Lessons Learned

Part-time AmeriCorps slots are usually more feasible than full-time slots for students, although it can be difficult to get AmeriCorps funding for these types of roles.
Rutgers-Camden reported several bureaucratic challenges on campus, including how to administer the AmeriCorps living stipend to students serving in Public Health AmeriCorps. To avoid extensive institutional onboarding and required benefit contributions, Rutgers-Camden classified students as “non-employees” when setting them up in the Human Resources system. The AmeriCorps roles are coded as “non-research service fellowships.”
In fall 2023, the majority of students enrolled in the Community Health Nursing course are not completing their rotations in AmeriCorps roles. The program directors believe the “daunting” AmeriCorps application process may have deterred some students.

For More Information

Thomas Dahan Assistant Professor and Public Health AmeriCorps Director Email Thomas

Kimberly McGuinness Clinical Nursing Instructor Email Kimberly

Daniel Fidalgo Tomé Engaged Civic Learning Coordinator Email Daniel