Program encourages students to get involved in serving their communities

Is your organization looking for assistance?

The Center for Small Towns (CST) and the Office of Community Engagement (OCE) at the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) are collaborating with Minnesota Campus Compact to provide an AmeriCorps “Students in Service” (SIS) program in west central Minnesota.

The program encourages and supports college and university students to enroll as part-time AmeriCorps members, providing valuable service in their communities. By participating in the SIS program, the member becomes a part of the AmeriCorps service network that improves lives and strengthens communities throughout the United States.

SIS goals are to involve more college students in serving community and encourage members to develop civic skills and attitudes, as well as transferable work skills. SIS believes that if students have positive experiences, they are more likely to serve their communities in the future.

Local units of government, K–12 schools, or nonprofit organizations within 60 miles of Morris are eligible to apply for SIS assistance. SIS members can assist with services such as project administration, marketing, data collection and entry, or other needs. Projects may include addressing issues such as housing, storefront design, program evaluation, document design, newsletter creation, economic analysis, Internet and web training, and more.

AmeriCorps requires SIS members to devote 300 hours to their projects, up to 10 hours per week during the academic year and 40 hours per week during the summer.

Members will be available to begin service at the start of spring semester, January 18, 2011, with projects ending by August 2011. At the end of the service term, students receive an education award from AmeriCorps to help defray tuition costs. Communities and organizations are required to provide project oversight, supervision, and financial support to offset costs, such as travel, printing, phone use, etc.

CST can provide a workstation; however, if project work will be off-campus, organizations need to provide a workstation and equipment. In addition, while all proposals will be considered, organizations able to provide students a stipend for housing and personal expenses will be given preference.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, December 1, 2010.

For assistance in preparation of the application, contact Jessica Beyer at (320) 589-6451. To obtain an application online, visit www.centerforsmalltowns.org, click on “Program and Services” and select “Students in Service-AmeriCorps.” Applications may be e-mailed to jbeyer@morris.umn.edu or mailed/delivered to: Center for Small Towns, Attn: Jessica Beyer, Welcome Center, University of Minnesota, Morris, 600 E 4th St, Morris, MN 56267.

The SIS program is funded by UMM, Minnesota Campus Compact, Corporation for National and Community Service, and the AmeriCorps Education Award Program. For more information visit www.studentsinservice.org.

CST is a community outreach program housed on the Morris campus that serves as a point-of-entry to the resources of the University of Minnesota. Small towns, local units of government, K–12 schools, nonprofit organizations, and other University units are able to utilize CST’s resources as they work on rural issues or make contributions to rural society. CST’s mission is to focus the University’s attention and marshal its resources toward assisting Minnesota’s small towns with locally identified issues while creating applied learning opportunities for faculty and students.

Through personal and academic discovery, the University of Minnesota, Morris provides its students dynamic opportunities to grow intellectually, engage in community, experience environmental stewardship and celebrate the diversity of global citizenship. A model for life, the renewable and sustainable Morris experience prepares graduates for lives of leadership and service. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, learn more about Morris at morris.umn.edu or call 1-888-866-3382.

Tags: center for small towns, office of community engagement, news, students, cst, oce