Tucson is a richly complex community that offers an abundance of interesting opportunities. Migrant and refugee issues, health disparities, use of water resources, range management, fire management planning, and economic and community development issues are challenging and relevant to our community. Tucson has one non-profit organization for approximately every 375 residents.
Our goal is to match your personal and professional interests in an internship that brings Peace Corps back home to an underserved, domestic community. We seek stable organizations where you will have broad opportunities for professional growth.
FUNDING
All Fellows are awarded the .25 Graduate Outreach Assistantship for four academic semesters (excludes summer). Non-UA agencies may be able to utilize Federal Work Study or pay additional wages to the Fellow. An outreach assistantship may be combined with another .25 assistantship on campus.
Fellows receiving Federal Work Study may work no more than 20 hours per week during the academic year, but may work full-time during the summer. Fellows on an assistantship may work no more than 30 hours per week including assistantship hours.
ESTABLISHING AN OUTREACH ASSISTANTSHIP SITE
We hold a virtual assistantship fair each summer, and distribute job descriptions and requests for Fellows on the Fellows email list. We can discuss specific opportunities with you, and suggest different agencies depending on your interests. Fellows are encouraged to be proactive in the process of finding an assistantship, (i.e., making appointments for interviews, and identifying current positions and new partners).
There is no one-size-fits-all in outreach. We encourage Fellows to take time to research and to get to know agencies. Observation or interviews can be very helpful in obtaining a general picture of the nature of the organization. We also recommend Fellows find a mentor at the organization with the experience, wisdom, and interest to nurture and guide them.
Coverdell Fellows' outreach must provide benefit to a domestic underserved community. Many students are interested in opportunities on the Arizona/Mexico border or abroad. Summer is the most practical time to arrange for such academic study, research or internships. Coverdell Fellows cannot support outreach or academic internships that are outside the U.S. or its territories.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE OUTREACH ASSISTANTSHIP
The Graduate College considers nine (9) credit hours to be a full course load; however, the course load varies considerably by department. While receiving an assistantship, the student must be enrolled for a minimum of six (6) units. The core classes in the first two semesters provide an important methodological and theoretical foundation. We encourage Fellows to maintain a balance between coursework, the assistantship, and personal life, so that they are successful academically.