What Does the Peace Corps Fellowship Provide?

• Tuition Assistance
• Internship
• AmeriCorps - Bringing Service Home
  
• Professional Development
• Mentoring
• Housing Opportunities

Tuition Assistance

UA Peace Corps Fellows receive a $10,000 graduate tuition remission applied to the standard (base) graduate tuition. This does not include some fees, departmental differential tuition, health insurance, or book discounts unless you are also on an assistantship. Tuition support is renewable for each year of your study based on your progress to degree and completion of your obligations as a Fellow. You are encouraged to seek additional support from the academic department or extramural funding sources to provide additional support. You may hold an assistantship while you are a Fellow. Tuition scholarships are renewable each year of study depending on progress to degree and meeting the committments of the program. Tuition costs are set each spring by the Arizona Board of Regents and the Bursar's web site will provide information on the costs of education.

Internship and Service

The core of what it is to be a Peace Corps Fellow is to provide a service or benefit to an underserved community. At the UA, this is traditionally through a Peace Corps Fellows internship. Most, but not all, positions are paid, either through work study, AmeriCorps, an assistantship, grant funds, or regular wages. We partner with more than 100 community non-profits, government agencies, and UA outreach units.

Academic credit is not offered for previous Peace Corps service, nor for the Peace Corps Fellows service unless it is also used for a required departmental experience. Your Peace Corps Fellows service may meet your departmental requirement or you may elect to do something entirely different. Fellows normally continue working with the same agency for the duration of studies, but changes are permitted.

Fellows' projects have resulted in presentations at national conferences, publication of scholarly papers, and thesis research. These experiences have led to permanent positions following (or before) graduation in several instances.

AmeriCorps - "Bringing Service Home"

In Fall 2006, the Fellows program was awarded a renewable AmeriCorps grant of approximately $122,000 per year. The first year funds 18 half-time and 2 quarter-time AmeriCorps members for service in environmental, health and nutrition and literacy endeavors. The second-year renewal (07-08) will support 16 half-time and 8 quarter-time Members. Half-time members serve a total of 900 hours within a 12-month period at a host agency. Half-time members receive a living stipend of $5820, and at the completion of service, a $2360 Segal Educational Credit which can be utilized for tuition, fees, or repayment of student loans over a 7-year period. The 900 hours of service may include up to 180 hours of professional development, including CPR, First Aid, Crisis Shelter Management Training, participation in a 3-day state AmeriCorps conference in Flagstaff in July, and other Peace Corps Fellow experiences. AmeriCorps members may also receive Work Study.

Professional Development

An August orientation and internship fair introduces fellows and organizations and provided a time to arrange interviews for service experiences. Fellows meet monthly for professional development, training, social gatherings or service projects. Recent events included panels on working with international and domestic NGO's, Professor Roger Hartley discussing "Getting to Yes: Models of Negotiation," internship presentations, social, and service events. Fellows have also worked together to develop their own projects, such as an Engineers Without Borders water project in Ghana, development of a water harvesting program in Tucson, and creation of a Global Health Club on campus. Fellows work with the Tucson RPCV community in fundraising and special events, and several Fellows serve as officers of this organization. Fellows plan and organize Peace Corps Week events which include school presentations, a Fair, and a service project. Fellows are expected to actively participate in these events each semester.

Mentoring

RPCV faculty, community members, and second year Fellows are invited to mentor incoming PC Fellows. We have 816 RPCV’s in Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise Counties, and the University of Arizona is a top 25 recruitment school. We have identified 50+ RPCV faculty and staff at UA who are wonderful resources. Mentoring is a way for second year Fellows to share their experience, and for first-year Fellows to expand their network. Incoming Fellows are encouraged to request a mentor.

Housing Opportunities

Housing is the most expensive aspect of the cost of education. Fellows do not receive housing support, but are encouraged to investigate Residence Life opportunities. Fellows have served as Hall Directors or Residence Assistants in La Aldea, Maricopa, and Posada san Pedro. Residence Life assistants receive free housing, an assistantship, health insurance, and discounts at the book store. Apply for housing positions on the Residence Life web site beginning in late November. Be advised that La Aldea was filled by mid-July 2007. Apply early if you plan to live in campus housing, and confirm the receipt of your deposit.