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Students: AmeriCorps

KB0010611

This article provides basic information on AmeriCorps.

Every day, college students help their communities in a variety of ways, from tutoring and mentoring children, to raising funds for worthy causes, to helping families recover from hurricanes and other disasters. AmeriCorps is a program of The Corporation for National and Community Service and is committed to building on this momentum and supporting a culture of service on college campuses.

The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is a post-service benefit received by AmeriCorps members and is supported through (1) AmeriCorps Vista and (2) AmeriCorps NCCC. This award was designed to encourage AmeriCorps alumni to seek post-secondary education opportunities. A number of higher education institutions are now matching the education award with scholarships/academic credits.

  • (1) What is AmeriCorps Vista? AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Authorized in 1964 and founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993. VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, and strengthen community groups,

  • (2) What is AmeriCorps NCCC? The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps is a full-time residential program for men and women, ages 18-24. The mission of AmeriCorps NCCC is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. AmeriCorps NCCC requires an intensive, 10-month commitment. Members serve in teams of eight to twelve and are assigned to projects throughout the region served by their campus. They are trained in CPR, first aid, public safety, and other skills before beginning their first service project.

Who is Eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award?

  • Upon successful completion of a term of service in an AmeriCorps position, members are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, depending upon the program in which members serve, the length of their service, and when they serve. The awards may also be transferred to a qualified family member.

What institutions are qualified to make the award?

  • Qualified institutions are institutions of higher education (including graduate and professional programs), as well as qualified vocational schools that currently participate in the Department of Education's Title IV student aid programs.

How can the award be used?

  • The education awards may be used to pay current educational expenses, higher education training, or to repay qualified student loans (including those approved under the G.I Bill and the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill.

What expenses are considered to be current educational expenses?

  • Education expenses are considered "current" if they were incurred on or after the date the member began his or her term of AmeriCorps service.

What is the amount of the award?

  • Beginning in the year 2010, the maximum amount is now equivalent to the maximum amount of the U.S. Department of Education's Pell Grant. Recipients may earn up to the value of two full-time education awards and they have seven years from the date they earned each award to use this benefit.

Is there a limit on the value of education awards that an individual is eligible to receive?

  • Yes. An individual may not receive more than the aggregate value of two full time awards.

May an individual who has already received the aggregate value of two education awards serve another term in AmeriCorps and receive a cash stipend for the service?

  • Yes. The individual may serve a third term and accept the cash stipend upon successful completion

How is payment of the award made?

  • My AmeriCorps is an online system that allows AmeriCorps members and financial and education institutions to submit and process Segal Education Award payments:

  1. Members log in to the system and create a request online for any of their available Segal AmeriCorps Education Award benefits. The system forwards the request to the Institution for approval.

  2. The Institution's representative will log into the system to view all pending requests. The representative will then process the request online.

  3. The automatically approved requests will be sent to the US Treasury for payment and the payment will be sent electronically. The Trust Staff of AmeriCorps will become involved in the payment process only if there are discrepancies.

For the latest information visit https://americorps.gov/.

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