Utah Campus Compact AmeriCorps Program

Supporting post-secondary education and success while meeting community need.

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The Utah Campus Compact AmeriCorps Program involves 1,200 college and university students in Utah.

Students in the program serve at non-profits, schools, and governmental organizations in their communities.

Collectively, Utah Campus Compact AmeriCorps students will provide over 500,000 hours of service to community organizations each year.

After completing their service, students earn an education award ranging between $1,175 and $2,775.

Utah Campus Compact AmeriCorps Program

What is AmeriCorps?

Facts and Figures:

AmeriCorps across the United States

Who Benefits from AmeriCorps?

• Youth, seniors, and others in need benefit from the tutoring, mentoring, health, housing, and other services members provide.

• Communities benefit from having better schools, safer streets, more affordable housing, a cleaner environment, and more engaged citizens.

• Organizations gain from having more reach and impact: 92% of sponsoring groups say members helped increase how many people they served to a large or moderate extent.

• Members acquire leadership and career skills, earn money for college, and learn how to be active citizens.

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637,000 AmeriCorps members since 1994

774 Million Hours served by AmeriCorps members

$1.77 Billion

Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by AmeriCorps members

2.4 Million Volunteers mobilized by AmeriCorps members in 2009

3,300 Number of organizations served by AmeriCorps members

$6.3 BillionAmeriCorps funds invested in nonprofit and community groups since 1994

AmeriCorps by the Numbers

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How Do You Pronounce AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is pronounced with a silent “p” and a silent “s”.

We’re not Ameri“Corpse” or Ameri“Corp”!

“AmeriCore”

AmeriCorps Programs

Divided up into three program areas

AmeriCorps VISTAAmeriCorps NCCCAmeriCorps State and National

Federal Agency that administers

all National Service Programs

AmeriCorps*VISTA

VISTA = Volunteers In Service To America

Helps individuals and communities implement grassroots solutions designed to alleviate poverty

Members serve full time for a year

Funding comes directly from CNCS

Behind the scenes, capacity-building:• Recruiting volunteers• Raising funds• Managing projects• Etc.

AmeriCorps*NCCC

NCCC = National Civilian Community Corps

Program for men & women ages 18 – 24

Members serve full-time for 10 months

Serve in teams of 10-14

Based out of three regional campuses across the country

Take on a series of 6 – 8 week projects across their region relative to conservation, revitalization, homeland security, disaster preparedness, and other areas

AmeriCorps*State & National

Largest of the three programs (>80,000 members serving every year)

Members engage in direct service to address critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas

Members serve in nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based organizations all over the country

Most of the funding for these programs is administered by Governor-appointed state service commissions in each state

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AmeriCorps*State Programs

• (This is the kind of program that Utah Campus Compact AmeriCorps Program is.)

• State and National programs that address locally- identified compelling community needs by engaging AmeriCorps members and volunteers in service.

• An AmeriCorps project must enhance what an organization was able to do before the grant, and cannot duplicate or supplant pre-existing activities, staff or volunteers.

• Focuses on one or more priority areas: (1) Education; (2) Healthy Futures; (3) Opportunity; (4) Environmental Stewardship; (5) Veterans; or (6) Disaster Services.

AmeriCorps Meets Critical Needs in America

• Teach and tutor• Mentor youth• Build homes• Fight poverty• Conserve the environment• Provide health services• Respond to disasters• Mobilize volunteers• Assist veterans• Much, much more…

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Who are AmeriCorps Members?

…and what do they do?

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Who are AmeriCorps Members?

Individuals enrolled for an intensive term of service (300-1700 hours per year) in an AmeriCorps program.

U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States

At least 17 years of age (no upper age limit) Not a volunteer or a staff person AmeriCorps members receive an Education Award

for successful completion of a term of service.

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AmeriCorps Members:

Expand the capacity of organizations to meet identified critical community needs.

Help organizations to recruit individuals from the community to serve as volunteers.

Gain skills, experience, and an Education Award to be used to further their education or repay student loans.

Members and volunteers gain a better understanding of community needs/challenges and how to solve them.

So, you ask… “What do I get?”

– Training

– Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (amounts vary by campus)

• 300 hours = $1,175

• 450 hours = $1,468

• 675 hours = $2,114

• 900 hours = $2,775

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The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

How, When, and Where You Can Use It

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You will earn an education award ranging between $1,175 and $2,775 after you complete your term of service.

The education award is issued to members 2-4 weeks after successful completion of service hours, end-of-service survey, and all paperwork.

You can participate in AmeriCorps for the equivalent of two full-time terms of service (a full-time term is1700 hours).

Students who do not complete their term of service do not receive an education award and this counts as one of their possible terms of service.

The Segal Education Award

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AmeriCorps members can use their education awards in three ways:

Past Members can repay qualified student loans such as Stafford, Perkins, Federal Direct/Indirect.

Present Members can apply the voucher to their current education expenses for the cost of attendance through the financial aid office on their campus.

Future Members can use the voucher for up to 7 years toward graduate programs, continuing education classes, specialty and trade schools, and study abroad.

The Segal Education Award

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Prohibited Activities

Things You CANNOT Do While Serving as an AmeriCorps Member

(but you can do them on your own time)

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The Corporation for National and Community Service has defined some activities that are not allowed in AmeriCorps projects and activities.

Individuals may engage in these activities during their own time, but may not include these activities as part of their term of service.

Prohibited Activities

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• Influencing legislation; lobbying• Letter-writing campaign to Congress• Engaging in partisan political activities• Advocating for or against political parties, platforms, or candidates• Registering voters• Organizing or participating in boycotts, strikes, or protests• Religious activities• Engaging in religious instruction or proselytizing• Conducting worship services• Constructing, operating, or maintaining facilities devoted to religious

instruction or worship

Prohibited Activities

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• Participating in activities that pose a significant safety risk to clients. (Ropes courses are appropriate service activities.)

• Grant writing or fundraising for operational expenses at the nonprofit agency.

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

• Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing.• Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining

agreements.• Providing abortion services or making referrals for such services.

Prohibited Activities

Requirements to Serve

Expectations from CNCS and Utah Campus Compact

• You must serve at a qualifying not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization or government agency. Each site must apply to host AmeriCorps members.

• Only one application (Qualified Site Contract) per site is necessary.

• You must do 60% of your service at one site, and • You must mobilize volunteer(s) for your site.

Requirements to Serve

Requirements to Serve Member Development

• Member Development gives you the opportunity to pursue personal and professional goals that are education and service related. It is an important aspect of AmeriCorps service. Member development hours can account for up to 20% of your total service term and include:

– Class time related to your direct service,– Professional conferences or workshops,– Faculty meetings or agency staff meetings, and – Time spent reflecting on your service individually or with peers on

monthly time logs.

• The maximum number of member development hours you can accrue with each term of service is:

– 300-hour term = 60 – 450-hour term = 90 – 675-hour term = 135– 900-hour term = 180

• You must:– Be a United States citizen or permanent resident alien of

the U.S.,– Be 17 years old or older, and possess or be working

toward a high school diploma or GED.– Not have been convicted of murder or an offense which

lists you on the national sex offender registry– Complete this orientation and verify that you have done

so.– Complete and submit the following to your campus

coordinator: Enrollment and Eligibility Form, Member Contract, Service Plan, and Qualified Site Contract

– Pass a background check (paid for by UCC).

Requirements to Serve

What’s Next?

First, go to 

http://www.nsopw.gov/Core/OffenderSearchCriteria.aspx

and run a check on your name.

Be sure you put your first and last names in the correct fields. You MUST print and date the results. You will be able to see detailed instructions on how to do this at the following

resources page. Without this document, your start date will be substantially delayed. 

: 

http://tinyurl.com/3lzyvds

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• Copy and paste the URL below into your browser or write it down for future reference. There you need to download, read, print, complete and sign the Eligibility Check, Member Contract, Service Plan, and Qualified Site Contract

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• Bring the following compelted items to your campus coordinator for review.

-P

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We’re Glad You’re Considering AmeriCorps

If you are unsure of who your campus coordinator is, or if you have any other questions please email: uccprogrammanager@gmail.com

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