Campus Corps Pre-service Orientation

Montana Campus Corps

Pre-Service Orientation Welcome, and thank you for your interest in Montana Campus Corps!

http://www.mtcampuscorps.org

ORIENTATION PURPOSE  Learn

About AmeriCorps

 Determine

Your Eligibility

 Understand

Your Commitment

Why Should You Join?

 SERVE

your community and “give back”

 LEARN

about your community and yourself

 EARN

an AmeriCorps Education Award

How Does It All Work? To be done BEFORE Pre-Service Orientation: Step 1: Click “Apply Now!” at mtcampuscorps.org. Step 2: Wait up to 48 hours to receive e-mail invitation. Step 3: Follow the link provided in the invitation e-mail to set up an account with the MyAmeriCorps Portal.

How Does It All Work? To be done AFTER Pre-Service Orientation: Step 4: Click “Get Enrolled!” at mtcampuscorps.org. Step 5: Attend a Member Training session and submit a paper copy of the Campus Corps Enrollment Packet. Step 6: Fulfill service commitments and earn an Award!

What is AmeriCorps?  Part

of a family of National Service programs

 Engages

more than 75,000 Americans each year (250,000 by 2017)

 Funded

through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in D.C.

What is AmeriCorps?  Participants  Members

“join” AmeriCorps

 Participation A

are called “members”

is called “term of service”

term of service is generally one year

Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)  AmeriCorps

is just one of many “streams” of National Service

 CNCS

also manages Learn & Serve, Senior Corps, and AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)

National Service in Montana AmeriCorps Programs: • • • • •

Montana Campus Corps Montana Conservation Corps Young Adult Service Corps (JMGF) Energy Corps (NCAT) Montana Legal Services AmeriCorps Project

AmeriCorps*VISTA Programs • • • •

Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) VISTA Prevention Resource Center VISTA Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) VISTA Communities In Action VISTA

Senior Corps • • •

Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Senior Companions Foster Grandparent Program

Learn and Serve America •

K-12: Office of Public Instruction Service-Learning

National Service in Montana Congress Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) AmeriCorps Montana Governor’s Commission on Community Service Montana Campus Compact Montana Colleges and Universities Campus Corps Members

What is the Campus Compact? 

A national organization founded in 1985; Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) in 1993



Promotes civic engagement and community service from college and university campuses



President/CEOs pay dues to affiliate



Over 1,100 campuses in 31 states participate



Your campus is part of the Campus Compact!

The Montana Campus Compact • • • • • • • • • •

Blackfeet Community College Carroll College Dawson Community College Flathead Valley Community College Fort Belknap College Fort Peck Community College Little Big Horn College Miles Community College Montana Tech of the UM Montana State UniversityBozeman

• Montana State UniversityBillings • Montana State UniversityNorthern • MSU College of TechnologyGreat Falls • Rocky Mountain College • Salish Kootenai College • The UM-Helena College of Technology • The University of MontanaMissoula • The University of MontanaWestern • University of Great Falls

The Montana Campus Compact • • • • • • • • • •

Blackfeet Community College Carroll College Dawson Community College Flathead Valley Community College Fort Belknap College Fort Peck Community College Little Big Horn College Miles Community College Montana Tech of the UM Montana State UniversityBozeman

• Montana State UniversityBillings • Montana State UniversityNorthern • MSU College of TechnologyGreat Falls • Rocky Mountain College • Salish Kootenai College • The UM-Helena College of Technology • The University of MontanaMissoula • The University of MontanaWestern • University of Great Falls

What is Campus Corps?  An

AmeriCorps program hosted by Montana Campus Compact, a network of 19 colleges and universities located throughout Montana

A A

16 year-old program

corps of engaged students who serve and lead their communities

What is Campus Corps? The mission of Campus Corps is: To actively engage college students in meeting community-identified needs through meaningful service.

What is Campus Corps? In general . . .  Members

are students who commit to serving between 300 and 1700 hours in one year  Leaders are non-students who support the members & organize team-building activities  Program Coordinators are campus-based staff who administer the program locally  Service Site Supervisors are staff at local community agencies who supervise members

Terms of Service We ask that you commit to a “term of service” that fits your individual goals and interests:     

300 hours in one calendar year = $1,000 450 hours in one calendar year = $1,250 675 hours in one calendar year = $1,800 900 hours in up to 2 calendar years = $2,362 1700 hours in one calendar year = $4,725

Terms of Service Individuals can participate in two terms of service through AmeriCorps in their lifetime. (NOTE: part-time terms are considered full terms.) 



Members who exit without completing their term receive no Education Award and use one of their two possible terms of service.

What are the benefits of joining the Campus Corps program? 

The difference you can make in your community.



An opportunity to grow professionally and personally.



The network of hundreds of students in Montana and thousands across in the region committed to improving their campuses and communities.



The National Service movement you join through AmeriCorps.

What are the benefits of joining the Campus Corps program?  In

addition, members have an opportunity to earn an AmeriCorps Education Award

 After

you’ve completed your term of service, you are eligible to receive this award voucher

 This

“service scholarship” can be used for your educational expenses, student loans, and continuing education

The Education Award     

Is a voucher issued by the National Trust in Washington, D.C. Can be applied to a financial institution or to an institution of higher education (Title IV school). Is considered taxable income by the IRS in the year it is used, not the year it is earned Is valid for 7 years after being issued Can be taken away from a member if a member receives a felony drug conviction during or after successfully completing their service term

The Education Award An Education Award can be used in one of three ways: 

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



Present Expenses Members can apply the voucher to their current education expenses through the financial aid office on their campus



Future Expenses Members can use the voucher for up to 7 years toward graduate programs, individual classes, specialty and trade schools, or qualifying study abroad programs

How can I earn an Ed. Award? It’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3! 3. 4. 5.

Submit all enrollment paperwork Fulfill your service commitments Submit all exit paperwork

Within 4 weeks the award is yours to use!

What do members do?  Members

serve at nonprofits, public agencies and faith-based organizations  Members’ service meets critical needs in: – – – – –

Education Health Public Safety Human Needs / Social Services Environmental Initiatives

What do members do? All Campus Corps members do the following: –

Increase the capacity of nonprofits and public agencies to meet critical community needs

–

Recruit and manage new volunteers

How do I accrue service hours? 

Allowable service hours can be categorized as: –

Direct service at a not-for-profit organization (including public schools, government agencies, faith-based organizations, & cultural institutions)

–

Indirect service, in the form of either Fundraising or Member Development activities.

How do I accrue service hours?  Direct Service Hours – Time spent directly meeting human needs at your site – At least 70% of your service  Member Development Hours – Time spent working toward personal/professional goals outlined in your Member Development Plan – No more than 20% of overall service commitment  Fundraising Hours – Raising funds for events or specific projects is allowed – No more than 10% of overall service commitment – Not a service requirement

What is Direct Service? Direct Service activities may include:  Hands-on

service that directly meets human needs at your designated service site

 Some

administrative or clerical tasks

 Other

volunteer activities in the community

What is Member Development? Member Development activities may include:  Coursework  Team

directly related to your service

trainings and reflection activities

 Professional  Formal

conferences or workshops

meetings or trainings with faculty, campus staff or service site staff

Prohibited Activities Political

Engagement

Religious Union

Activities

Organizing

Working

for For-Profit Businesses

Prohibited Activities In addition, members agree to avoid the following:  Safety –

Risks

Participating in activities that pose a significant safety risk to clients or self.

* Note: “Challenge by choice” and ropes courses are appropriate service activities.

What about . . . ? The following are activities for which members may not accrue service hours:      

Work for which outside compensation is received International service Travel time to and from a service site Personal recreation time Hours spent sleeping during an overnight retreat Grant writing and/or fundraising for an agency’s capital or operating costs

Know your rights!  The

Member Agreement is:

–

A contract saying you agree to serve as a Campus Corps AmeriCorps member

–

A thorough overview of your rights and responsibilities as a member

–

Available online at mtcampuscorps.org

Know your rights! By enrolling, you agree to the following: – – – – –

Sexual Harassment and Non-discrimination: VI Grievance Procedure: IX Rules of Conduct: XI Drug-Free Workplace Act: XII Suspension and Release from Service: XIII

When you sign it, you agree to it!

Next steps . . .  If

you haven’t already, apply online by going to mtcampuscorps.org.  Meet with the campus coordinator and your site supervisor to review your position description.  Visit mtcampuscorps.org often to stay up-to-date and get questions answered.

Review Questions What are the five AmeriCorps service focus areas? a. b. c.



What is member development? a. b. c. d.



Politics, environment, public safety, human needs, education Religion, education, environment, public safety, human needs Education, environment, health, human needs, public safety.

It gives you the opportunity to pursue personal and professional goals that are educational and service-oriented. It is time spent reflecting upon your service It is time spent in training, workshops, classes or conferences related to your service All of the above

What percentage of your service can be spent on member development? a. b. c.

20% 40% 80% Answers: c., d., a.



Review Questions Which of these are prohibited activities? a. b. c. d.



Which of these statements is NOT true? a. b. c. d.



Religious activity, political activity, fundraising for capital or operating costs Serving with a for-profit organization, lobbying, or union organizing Serving in a church’s food bank, tutoring students at a parochial school Both A and B

You must be either United States citizen or a permanent resident You must have participated in community service before. You must be at least 17 years old You must have a GED or high school diploma or be working toward one of the two and receive it by the end of the service term.

How can you use the AmeriCorps Education Award? a. b. c. d.

I can give it to a family member for them to use. I can use it to pay tuition expenses or pay back outstanding student loans. I can wait and use it in 10 years. All of the above Answers: a., b., b.



AmeriCorps Pledge I 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 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.

Thank You! Thank you for your interest in the Campus Corps AmeriCorps Program! If you have any questions please contact the Program Coordinator at your local college or university campus. Return to http://www.mtcampuscorps.org