AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. Every year, approximately 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve organizations in communities across the United States. Individuals who serve through AmeriCorps receive a monthly living stipend and, at the end of their service term, an education award they can use to cover the costs of college or graduate school.
Colleges and universities across the country are partnering with AmeriCorps to reach their institutional goals related to teaching and learning, student access and affordability, career development, and community impact.
High-impact practices like internships, service-learning, and community-based learning provide significant educational benefits for students participating in them. Below are some ways you can partner with AmeriCorps to provide these types of experiences for your students.
<aside> <img src="/icons/sharing_red.svg" alt="/icons/sharing_red.svg" width="40px" /> Partnership Spotlight: Rutgers University Camden + Public Health AmeriCorps
Nursing students at Rutgers-Camden complete a portion of their clinical rotations in 100-hour Public Health AmeriCorps positions. These students earn academic credit for their service and qualify for AmeriCorps benefits including a living stipend and education award.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/sharing_red.svg" alt="/icons/sharing_red.svg" width="40px" /> Partnership Spotlight: Communities In Schools of San Antonio
Communities In Schools of San Antonio (CIS-SA) partners with 28 local colleges and universities to provide credit-bearing internship experiences for students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in psychology, sociology, social work, and counseling. As AmeriCorps members serving with CIS-SA, students provide guidance to children at high-need public schools under the guidance of experienced (often licensed) supervisors. The students receive academic credit for their internships, as well as a living stipend and education award.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/sharing_red.svg" alt="/icons/sharing_red.svg" width="40px" /> Partnership Spotlight: University of Oregon + Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE)
The University of Oregon School of Planning, Public Policy, and Management offers a nine credit waiver to individuals who have completed an 11-month term of service with Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) Oregon, an AmeriCorps program that serves rural communities across the state. Students can use the credits toward master’s degrees in community and regional planning, public administration, or nonprofit management.
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AmeriCorps helps students apply, pay for, and complete college by offering the following benefits to those who serve.
<aside> <img src="/icons/sharing_red.svg" alt="/icons/sharing_red.svg" width="40px" /> Partnership Spotlight: College Completion Corps
The College Completion Corps program, run by Michigan College Access Network, trains AmeriCorps members to serve as “Completion Coaches” on 20+ partner campuses across the state. Each Corps member works with 100-150 students who are first-generation, low-income, and/or students of color to help them meet their educational goals. Partner campuses provide office space and resources for AmeriCorps members, as well as an annual cost-share that helps cover administrative costs for the College Completion Corps program.
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AmeriCorps can provide opportunities for students to gain real-world experience and build their résumés while in college, or it can serve as a launching point for their careers after graduation.