Center for Community Engagement &
Service Learning: General Information
What is the AmeriCorps Program?
AmeriCorps is a national service program initiated by President Clinton, often referred to as the “domestic Peace Corps.” AmeriCorps provides thousands of Americans of all ages and backgrounds with service scholarships in exchange for their service to their community. Nationally, over 350,000 AmeriCorps Members have helped to meet the nation’s critical needs in the areas of public safety, education, human needs, and the environment.
AmeriCorps UCAN Serve Description
UCAN Serve (Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and now Montana) AmeriCorps program is a regional effort to engage students in meaningful service in local communities. UCAN Serve focuses on 3 primary goal areas: Education, Public Health/Safety, and Community Strengthening. At DU we offer AmeriCorps scholarships to students who successfully complete a set term of service:
- 300 hours = $1,000 service scholarship
- 450 hours = $1,250 service scholarship
- 900 hours = $2,363 service scholarship
What Types of Service are eligible?
Community Work Study: As a community-based work study, your hours working in tutoring, mentoring, or addressing human needs DO count toward the scholarship.
Volunteering and Service Learning: If you are involved in a volunteer program that addresses tutoring, mentoring and addressing human needs, your hours DO count toward the grant. Programs and partners in coordination with the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning will be eligible sites.
Clinicals, Social Work Fieldwork or Student Teaching: If you are involved in an unpaid student teaching position, practicum, or fieldwork for education, social work, psychology etc, in which you are tutoring, mentoring, or addressing unmet human needs in a community your hours DO count toward this scholarship.
Note: Financial need is NOT a consideration for this scholarship
How it works
Site must be eligible (most non-profits and all government agencies)
Student cannot be receiving an hourly wage, check with the AmeriCorps Coordinator on other forms of compensation.
Students turn in monthly time sheets and reflections reporting on their service.
The hours accumulate over the course of 12 or 24 months, depending on service term.
At the end of the service, students exit the program and receive the scholarship.
There are three scholarships amounts, correlating to three different service terms:
- 300 hours over the course of a year = $1,000.00
- 450 hours over the course of a year = $ 1,250.00
- 900 hours over the course of two years = $2,363.00
Note: The 900 hours can be extended over two academic years
What are AmeriCorps member responsibilities?
(all documents available in links to the right)
Step 1:
You must attend a mandatory orientation session (usually held in September and January). Contact the AmeriCorps Coordinator to sign up for an orientation.
Step 2:
Fill out initial paperwork (Membership contract, Enrollment form and Criminal Background Check Authorization/Verification form) and turn in to the AmeriCorps Coordinator, include a copy of your passport or birth certificate
Step 3:
Turn in your Service Summary (1 for every service site/supervisor) and signed timesheets every month. Complete 300, 450, or 900 service hours within the United States.
Step 4:
Work to develop a culture of community service on campus and in the community! Fill out the Member online evaluation survey. Turn in the confirmation page from that survey along with your Exit form to complete the program.
Good things to know before enrolling:
* Once you enroll you cannot cancel your term and you will use one of your AmeriCorps terms (every citizen is eligible for 2 terms in his/her lifetime) even if you do not complete your hours.
* You have 60 days to change your hourly term if there are slots available.
* When done with your service hours you receive a Service scholarship in the form of an “Education Award.” This award is not a “check,” it can be applied only to current or future tuition costs or can be applied to federal/state student loans. You have up to 7 years to use your scholarship and you may apply the funs incrementally over time.
* Basic requirements in order to qualify as an AmeriCorps member are as follows:
- Members must be 17 years of age; there is no upper age limit.
- Members must be a U.S. Citizen or legal resident.
- Members must have graduated from High School or have a G.E.D.
For more information contact your campus representative:
AmeriCorps Coordinator*
Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning
Driscoll South, Suite #18, 2050 E. Evans Ave.
Denver, CO, 80208
* This position is currently in transition - the interim contact person for AmeriCorps in the CCESL is Heather Atkinson, hatkins2@du.edu Please allow up to 10 days for a response to inquiries during this transitional period. Contact information will be updated as soon as a new Coordinator is hired.
Questions about using the AmeriCorps education award?
Call the National Service Trust: 1-888-507-5962, or
email: edawardvoucher@cns.gov
The new website allows easier access to education awards! From this site members can register to check their service scholarship balance online and print vouchers from their own computer! Once a member has been exited they can register for an account and control when they receive and use their voucher.
http://www.americorps.org
Other Website Links:
UCAN Serve:
http://www.coloradocampuscompact.org/
(go to UCAN Serve)
General AmeriCorps website: http://www.americorps.org/
