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Service Learning and AmeriCorps Office

The Service Learning and AmeriCorps Office, founded in 1993, partners across campus and the community to support a teaching and research culture rooted in experiential learning. The office coordinates Colorado Campus Compact's Compact Service Corps AmeriCorps Program, offering the benefits and resources of AmeriCorps membership to undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and community partners. Compact Service Corps provides assistance, incentive and tracking through a service commitment. In addition our office connects students with other service learning opportunities in the community and supports their continued development. These programs are an excellent way for individuals, groups, university programs and departments to support their service initiatives.

STUDENTS volunteer and earn AmeriCorps education award money at CU Boulder. AmeriCorps membership supports making hands-on, active learning part of the college experience. Students earn money for completing a term of volunteer service and additional financial support of up to $250 for professional development. Scroll down to find out how to become involved, eligibility requirements and award amounts. Also, find more information about membership at:
http://www.cccompact.org/programs/csc/members
Note: Financial need is NOT a consideration for this scholarship.

FACULTY and STAFF use the AmeriCorps scholarship to structure and motivate community engagement initiatives in their curriculum and programs. Each year, the Service Learning and AmeriCorps Office awards grants to faculty and instructors who incorporate service-learning and/or AmeriCorps. Grants are available for design of a new course or for a major re-design of an existing course, as well as for implementing such courses.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS work with the Service Learning and AmeriCorps Office in order to receive high quality, long-term volunteers. If you are a teacher or administrator in an eligible school K-12, you may request Academic Mentors.

For more information about volunteers from the Compact Service Corps Program and school eligibility requirements, see:
http://www.cccompact.org/programs/csc/community-partners

OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT INVOLVEMENT:
Academic Mentors
Become an Academic Mentor and support K-12 high-need students. Academic Mentors offer support in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and non-profits in the community. Mentors are requested by schools and community members to support academic engagement through in-class support and after school support programs.

Student Teachers
If you are a student teacher working in a high-need school you may be eligible for a scholarship. Contact our office to learn more.

Capacity Building
Support local nonprofits with volunteer departments. Help them to create new ways in which to recruit, manage and support their volunteers.

In addition, many students join individually because volunteering is part of their life. See eligibility information below.

ELIGIBLE SERVICE ACTIVITIES:

• Tutoring, mentoring and education programs for K-12 students

• Capacity building and volunteer recruitment for local nonprofit agencies

• Primary and preventive healthcare in under served communities


HOW IT WORKS:
1. Work with our office to choose a service site and create a service project that meets the goals of the Compact Service Corps Program.

2. Choose from one of the terms of service, correlating to different scholarship amounts:

300 HOURS IN 12 MONTHS = $1,175
450 HOURS IN 12 MONTHS = $1,468
675 HOURS IN 12 MONTHS = $2,114
900 HOURS IN 24 MONTHS = $2,775

4. Pass a criminal background check.

5. Attend an orientation session with your Campus Coordinator by contacting our office.

6. Engage in service activities and report time/progress to your host site and Campus Coordinator on a monthly basis.

7. Accumulate your service hours and earn a service scholarship! Award money is held in an account for 7 years and can be used to use to pay tuition or pay back federal student loans.

This is a public program. For more information, please visit the program website.