1. What is the Peace Corps Fellow/USA Program?
2. Must I have completed my Peace Corps service to be eligible?
3. Can I apply for Peace Corps Fellows or the UA before I go overseas?
4. Are most of the Fellows recently returned from service?
5. Do I receive academic credit for my Peace Corps service?
6. How can I find out what programs are available at the UA?
7. Do you fund doctoral programs, medical or law school or programs not listed?
8. Do I need to take the GRE/ GMAT?
9. What is the average GRE/GMAT score required for admission?
10. How is the GPA evaluated?
11. Is it possible for my internship to focus on the US/Mexico border area?
12. Do I need a car for my internship?
13. How difficult is it to attend school and hold an internship at the same time?
14. What is the Peace Corps Fellow obligation?
15. How large is the UA Peace Corps Fellows program?
16. Where have UA Fellows served in Peace Corps and Crisis Corps?
17. How many RPCV’S live in Tucson?
18. When should I apply?

1. What is the Peace Corps Fellow/USA Program?

The Peace Corps fellows program allows returned Peace Corps volunteers to attend the University of Arizona, with reduced expenses, while serving in an internship that benefits an underserved community.

2. Must I have completed my Peace Corps service to be eligible?

Fellows normally complete two years of service and have received a complete close of service. However, exceptions are made for volunteers who were medically separated or forced to leave service through no fault of their own, such as a country crisis.

3. Can I apply for Peace Corps Fellows or the UA before I go overseas?

No. The Peace Corps Fellows/USA is only for volunteers who will have completed service by the time they enter school. The UA does not participate in Peace Corps Master’s International programs. We recommend that you apply 9-12 months prior to the date you wish to begin your studies.

4. Are most Fellows recently returned from service?

Most Fellows have returned from service within the last 3-5 years, however, you are eligible to apply to the program regardless of the date of your Peace Corps service. We encourage you to apply if you are interested in returning to academia and providing service in southern Arizona.

5. Do I receive academic credit for my Peace Corps service?

No participating departments give credit for Peace Corps service and that is not expected to change in the future.

6. How can I find out what programs are available at the UA?

Check the Graduate College Website at grad.arizona.edu and look at the Cataloge or Quick Links/Description of Programs. Other valuable resources are class listings for programs under Schedule of Classes and the Faculty Research Interest Database.

7. Do you support doctoral programs, medical or law school, or programs not listed?

We fund a small number of doctoral students. It is expected that the dissertation research of a Peace Corps Fellow will meet the spirit of Fellows/USA. We do not fund medical school students due to the intensity of the academic program. Law students may apply as they enter their second year of study. If you are interested in a program not listed, please contact rpcf@grad.arizona.edu for more information.

8. Do I need to take the GRE or GMAT?

Departments generally require a standardized test for graduate admissions. Check Program Descriptions on the Graduate College website for details on the general and subject tests. It may be to your advantage to take the GRE prior to departing for service as it is more difficult to take the test abroad. GRE scores may be submitted to the UA if taken in the last five years. Consult the department for further information.

9. What is the average GRE/GMAT score required for admission?

Faculty of the academic unit evaluate applications, reviewing all materials provided. The minimum standard for admission is noted in the Graduate College description of programs. The Graduate Coordinator for the department can provide details on average profiles of incoming students.

10. How is the GPA evaluated?

The Graduate College evaluates the GPA, generally based on your last 60 credits or last two years of undergraduate study. If your GPA for this period is below a 3.0 or is lacking certain required courses for the field of study you wish to enter, you might consider taking additional courses as a non-degree student to make up deficits. A non-degree student cannot be considered a Fellow.

11. Is it possible for my internship to focus on the US/Mexico border area?

U.S. Peace Corps requires that internships must be focused in the United States and its territories, but it is possible for internships to have an international component. However, internships on the border require a 45 minute to 2 hour commute, and may be more practical as summer internships. Some Fellows work with refugee or international communities in Tucson.

12. Do I need a car for my internship?

Tucson is considered a bike friendly city and a number of Fellows rely on bicycles for transportation. Student bus transit passes are available. Free UA shuttles are available in several corridors and UA SafeRide provides weeknight transportation in the campus area. Carondelet provides a free shuttle from Tucson to Nogales, but most internship agencies do not offer transportation. Many internship sites are available near campus, but work on reservations, in border communities, and on many projects will be significantly easier to access with a car.

13. How difficult is it to attend school and hold an internship at the same time?

Many of our Fellows state that the internship is an extremely valuable part of the academic experience. It is a means to apply and extend what is learned in the academic program, and it has led to enhanced career opportunities.

Our Fellows say they are busy and must manage their time well, but it is definitely doable. Many of our Fellows are student leaders, have family or organizational responsibilities. The first semester is a transition and is very intense in many departments. We want you to be successful in your academic endeavors and encourage you to participate in departmental and Fellows’ orientation programs to help organize the year.

The University offers a number of resources including: Counseling Services, University Teaching Center, University Learning Center, Disability Resource Center, Centers for underrepresented students and others. We encourage second year Fellows to help with your transition into school, and Fellows meet monthly alternating social and professional development experiences.

14. What is my obligation as a Peace Corps Fellow at UA?

Fellows serve at least 500 hours during the 9-12-month year in an internship that benefits an underserved community. This can generally be fulfilled by working 12-20 hours per week during each 16 week semester or by serving 10-12 hours/week during the academic year and extending through summer. The internship may be funded through Work Study, AmeriCorps or directly by an agency.

We have been an AmeriCorps program through a grant to the Arizona Governor's Office of Family, Youth and Children since 2006. This program provides a total of 28 quarter-time slots and 6 half-time slots (2008-09). A half-time Member has a 900 hour service obligation, and a quarter-time Member has a 450 hour oblication over a twelve-16 month period. Most Peace Corps Fellows receive funding for their internship through a combination of Work Study and AmeriCorps.

AmeriCorps members, Fellows with Assistantships or those with extremely rigorous academic programs may fulfill their obligations during the summer. Of course, many fellows enjoy their internships and continue to work during the summer and even after degree completion.

Peace Corps Fellows are also expected to participate in three professional development events each semester, two service activities per year, Peace Corps Week activities, and to submit periodic evaluation reports each semester. Renewal of the Fellowship is contingent on progression to degree, fulfillment of the service obligation, and active participation as a Fellow. Fellows may go on "reserve" to complete a departmental internship or to take advantage of fellowships or opportunities which require a full-time commitment. Fellows conducting research or study abroad are placed on reserve.

15. How large is the UA Peace Corps Fellows program?

We have been the 2nd largest Fellows program in 2006-07 and 2007-08. UA Peace Corps Fellows has grown from 5 Fellows in 2000 to a high of 57 in 2006. We had 54 Fellows in the 2007-08 academic year. In Fall, 2008 we admitted 22 new Fellows.

 

The largest cohorts have been in Public Health and Planning over the life of the program. We have 24 academic units that participate in the Peace Corps Fellows program with Fellows in Public Health, Planning, Public Administration and Policy, the Eller MBA, Law (2nd/3rd year only), Anthropology, Latin American Studies, Hydrology and Water Resources, Arid Lands Resource Sciences (Ph.D. only), Natural Resources (Watershed or Wildlife Management), Art Education, Language Reading & Culture, Teacher Training and Education, School of Information Resources and Library Science, Rhetoric, Composition and the Teaching of English, English Linguistics/ESL. We have also had Fellows in Civil Engineering, Family and Consumer Science, Agricultural Education, and Teach for Tucson (now Teach for Arizona).

 

We also include in our cadre of service minded students, a number of AmeriCorps Members, including those who have served in Peace Corps, and others who are serving only in AmeriCorps.

16. Where have UA Fellows served in Peace Corps and Peace Corps Response?

Our Fellows have served in Peace Corps and in Peace Corps Response in: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Eastern Caribbean, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, New Orleans, LA., Nicaragua, Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Samoa, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Tchad, Togo, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Vanuatu, and Zambia. Let us know if you'd like to email a Fellow who served in a particular country.

17. How many RPCV’S live in Tucson?

More than 800 Returned Peace Corps Volunteers live in the Tucson Area, and 2,000+ live in Arizona. The Desert Dove RPCV’s of Southern Arizona meet bimonthly, donate to Peace Corps projects worldwide and welcome all Peace Corps Fellows. UA is generally a top 25 recruiter school for Peace Corps and ranks 18th overall for all years for recruitment.

18. When should I apply?

We recommend that you file your Fellows' application by December for Fall starts, though we will accept applications up to March 1. Applications received after March 1 are automatically waitlisted. Typically, a few Fellows may begin in January, so applications for spring are accepted through October 1.

All applicants should file the FAFSA in January. It can provide financial support in the form of loans, grants, and work study.

Submit your academic application in advance of the department deadline - usually when international applications are due for optimal review.

Do you have other questions?

Just e-mail us at rpcf@grad.arizona.edu and we’ll be glad to respond.

Updated 09/2008