ICAN! CohortICAN! CohortUCAN Serve UCAN Serve

AmeriCorps ProgramAmeriCorps Program

AmeriCorps

• Network of national service programs that engage more than 75,000 Americans each year in intensive service

• Federally funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in DC. Also manages Learn & Serve and Senior Corps

The AmeriCorps PledgeI will get things done for America -

to make our people safer,smarter, and healthier.

I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.

Faced with apathy, I will take action.

Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.

Faced with adversity, I will persevere.

I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.

I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

•NC Campus Compact builds the capacity of colleges and universities to produce civically-engaged graduates and to strengthen communities.

•46 member campuses

•National Campus Compact – 35 state offices/1200 members

•NC-ACTS! (2004-2010) Education Award Program (1981 graduates)

http://www.nccampuscompact.org

North Carolina Campus Compact

•Colorado Campus Compact (CCC) - builds campus and community partnerships through service learning and civic engagement programs in support of the civic mission of higher education.

•UCAN Serve – largest Education Award program in the country (5,347 slots for the 2010-11 program year)

•NC Campus Compact 2010 = 250 members http://www.coloradocampuscompact.org/

Colorado Campus Compact/U Can Serve

•Fellow = participating student•UCAN Serve = CO CC program name (on documents)•NC-ACTS! = former AmeriCorps program hosted by NC Campus Compact (on documents)•ICAN! = Individual College Access Network (ICAN!)•ADVANCE = New AmeriCorps program (Fall 2011)•Cohort = specialized statewide/trans-campus group of students serving within a specific focus area•Cluster = each campus team of members•Campus Coordinator = individual on each participating campus who facilitates the local program

Uniting Campuses*Empowering Students*Impacting NC Communities

Glossary of Terms

How Does The How Does The Program Work?Program Work?

• One year (term of service)/300 hours

• 3 reflection sessions

• Upon completion of requirements = Educational Award

• $1132 (not a CASH award)

• Transferable for those 55 and older

• Can retain for up to 7 years

• Uses for the Educational Award include:

• Pay for qualified students loans

• Pay for current educational expenses

• PRIVATE LOANS ARE NOT APPLICABLE!!!

• Can be divided

Mentoring

Childhood Obesity

ICAN!

Cohorts

Campus Coordinators serve as key contact for Program Director. and:

• Recruits

• Orients & trains

• Tracks online forms and documents (campus maintains copies and sends originals to NC Campus Compact)

• Hosts cohort Reflection Sessions

• Celebrates and acknowledges student/cohort work and milestones

What are Campus Coordinators Responsibilities?

• Orientation session coordinated by the Campus Coordinator.

• Campus Coordinator reviews and oversees completion of enrollment forms:

CNCS Enrollment Form (invited via e-mail)

Member Contract

Service Summary and Site Supervisor Verification Form

Proof of Eligibility Verification Form

Passport, Birth Certificate or Naturalization documents

Criminal Background Check Authorization Form

Pre-Service Reflections (can come with 1st time log)

ENROLLMENT

• A member cannot enroll and will not be invited until the Background Check clears

• Murder conviction/NSOPR – automatic disqualification

• Other = case-by-case

• Once Check clears, you are invited to enroll

Background Check Policy

Uniting Campuses*Empowering Students*Impacting NC CommunitiesUniting Campuses*Empowering Students*Impacting NC Communities

• Member receives an invitation to apply through My AmeriCorps :myamericorps@americorps.gov

• Set-up an account [SAVE PASSWORD!!!!!!!]

• Member receives a “welcome” e-mail announcing their enrollment

• Start serving!!

Enrollment Continued…

ICAN! Members, like private citizens, may participate in any of the activities listed below (lobbying, political and advocacy activities, etc.) on their own time, at their own expense, and at their own initiative. Any individual may take part in the prohibited activities, but they may not count that time toward an AmeriCorps term of service and may not wear AmeriCorps service gear in such instances. All these guidelines are outlined in the Member Contract.

Prohibited Activities include:

• Political Activities

• Religious Affairs

• Union Activities

• For-Profit Business

• Safety Factors

• Abortion Services

Prohibited Activities

Prohibited Political Activities:

• Participating in efforts to influence legislation or lobbying for your program

• Organizing a letter writing campaign to Congress

• Engaging in partisan political activities

• Voter registration drives

• Organizing or participating in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes

Prohibited Religious Affairs:

• Engaging in religious instruction

• Conducting worship services

• Engaging in any form of religious proselytizing

Prohibited Activities

Prohibited Union Activities include:

• Assisting, promoting or deterring union organizing

• Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements

Prohibited For-Profit Activities:

• Providing a direct benefit for a for-profit entity, labor union, a partisan political organization or an organization engaged in religious activities

Prohibited Safety Factors

• Participating in activities that pose a significant safety risk to participants

Prohibited Activities

What Counts as Member Development/Training Activities?

20% (60 hours) of members’ hours can be member development/training.

Every hour over must be made up in direct service.

Member Development/Training : instructional; support a members’ ability to serve effectively; improve the members skills, knowledge and self-awareness.

• Reflection sessions

• Orientation/training at service site

• Class time related to your direct service

• Development, implementation, and/or involvement in peer training

• Professional conferences or workshops

MUST BE RELATED TO DIRECT SERVICE

What’s Direct Service?

Direct Service directly impacts site or clients:• Assessing community assets and needs for services

• Tutoring or mentoring kids K-12

• Recruiting, training, placing volunteers for non-profit organization

• Performing case management

• Delivering food and supplies to homebound community members

• Building homes for low-income community members

• Attending to clients in healthcare facilities

• Working with parents and families on educational needs and family literacy programs

In general, AmeriCorps Members cannot assist their organizations with major fundraising efforts. However, Corporation policy permits some limited activities related to fundraising by AmeriCorps Members to the extent that such activities:

• Are not funding the agency’s capital or operating costs• Provide immediate and direct support to a specific and direct

service activity• Relate to your direct service• Are not the primary activity of the program• Do not involve significant amounts of time for any Member • No writing of federal grants• Are less than 10% (30 hours) of the total 300 hours to be

served

Fundraising

Service Sites

•One Service Summary per organization

•Site Supervisor must sign

•Brief description of what you will accomplish during your term, constituency group(s) you will serve, community need of your project, and community benefit

•Site Supervisor = someone you have regular access to and can verify your hours and oversee your service. *They will need to sign your Monthly Time Logs, and complete an evaluation before you can be exited from the program and receive your Education Award.

Pre-Service Reflections

•One per site

•Attach to Service Summary

•1st one can come with first time log

Monthly Time Logs (Part I)

•Monthly time logs are due MONTHLY

•Each month, regardless of whether you serve or not, you need to be in contact with your Campus Coordinator. If you serve any time during any month, you must record the hours on a Monthly Time Log. If you do not serve, you must EMAIL your Campus Coordinator to let them know you have not served, and to ensure that you are still on track toward completion of your term of service with AmeriCorps.

•In order to be valid, your Monthly Time Log MUST BE stapled to and submitted with your Monthly Reflections on Your Service

•The Monthly Time Log must be typed or completed in ink (pencil will not be accepted)

Monthly Time Logs (Part II)

•The Monthly Time Log is not valid unless it has BOTH an ORIGINAL signature from you and your Site Supervisor. Copied, faxed, stamped, and electronic signatures are not acceptable.

•The ORIGINAL HARD COPY of the Monthly Time Log AND Service Reflections must be received by your Campus Coordinator on or before the 10th of the month following the specified month of service.

•Paperwork CANNOT be emailed or faxed. All documents must contain original signatures.

•You MUST submit a separate Monthly Time Log AND Monthly Reflections on Your Service for EACH site you serve , should you serve multiple sites in any particular month.

Monthly Time Logs (Part III)

•Only one month may be recorded on a single time log

•No scratch-outs or white-out allowed!

•Incorrect time logs must be re-submitted

•Check your totals!!!!

•Quarter hour format

Time Log Review & Practice

Mini-grants Process

Campus Coordinator can apply for Campus Coordinator can apply for CohortCohort– By August 15 for $100By August 15 for $100– For second $100 when original For second $100 when original

receipts for first $100 are receipts for first $100 are submittedsubmitted

– Supplies, refreshments, Supplies, refreshments, honorariums for presentationshonorariums for presentations

Outstanding Service Award• Provided superior service to their service site

• Worked to their full potential to positively contribute to the site where they are serving, including using their skills and knowledge to help the site advance their mission, expand their service/client base and or enhance the services they provide.

• $100 to student/$100 to site

• 2009 = Grace Johnson, Wake Forest University

• 2010 = Charles Webster, Appalachian State University

• 2011 = ??????

Uniting Campuses*Empowering Students*Impacting NC Communities

Leslie A. Garvin NC Program Director

(336) 278-7198nc-acts@elon.edu

UCAN Serve

Jami Hiyakumoto

Questions?