Indiana University

News Release

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Last modified: Thursday, October 6, 2011

IU awarded AmeriCorps positions for student service and engagement

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 6, 2011

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana Campus Compact has awarded Indiana University Bloomington 15 AmeriCorps student positions in the Service-Engagement Corps (S-E Corps) for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Students chosen for these positions serve 300 hours in the community as part of the AmeriCorps national service program. Each student will receive $1,175 in educational funding upon completion. IU Bloomington staff members will provide training and supervision for the IU undergraduates selected as S-E Corps members by the two offices participating in the program.

The assignment of S-E Corps positions includes 10 members for Student Life and Learning and five members for the Global Village Living-Learning Center.

The Global Village Living-Learning Center, part of the College of Arts and Sciences, is a residence hall community serving 170 Indiana University students who are interested in learning languages and cultures, travel and study abroad.

Student Life and Learning, a unit in the Division of Student Affairs, placed S-E Corps with local agencies, where they will serve between 5-10 hours per week for the academic year. Among participating agencies are Global Gifts, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard and Head Start. Additionally, the members will recruit and raise awareness among IUB students about opportunities to become more involved in the Bloomington community.

Four S-E Corps members will be serve as Global Village Engagement Coordinators. They will develop workshops, presentations and service projects focused on environmental, cultural, political and social issues, with the goal of increasing awareness of current issues, connecting students to campus and community resources, and engaging students in creating positive community change.

Four Global Village S-E Corps members will serve as team leaders for Books and Beyond, a partnership with TEAM Schools in Newark, N.J., and a primary school in Rwanda to increase access to education through literacy education. As team leaders, the members will recruit student volunteers, build partnerships with campus organizations, organize volunteer workshops and facilitate small workgroups.

Jessica Ensenberger, a senior studying English and gender studies, said that as a student outside SPEA, the program has given her the opportunity to get more experience in the non-profit sector -- while being recognized for her commitment to community service.

"The students I've met through the program have been a great support system and have reminded me that I am not alone in my passion for volunteering," Ensenberger said. "Most importantly, the program has pushed me to think more critically about volunteerism and its impact on my community. As a national service member, I believe my greatest accomplishment will be igniting the passion for serving in others."

The SLL supervisor for the S-E Corps positions is Colleen Rose, SLL assistant director, who can be reached at 812-855-4311 or acorps@indiana.edu.

The supervisor for the Global Village S-E Corps members is Lauren Caldarera, assistant director, and she can be reached at 812-855-4264 or lcaldare@indiana.edu.

Indiana Campus Compact

Indiana Campus Compact (ICC) is a network of college campuses that involves students, faculty and staff in service-learning and civic engagement. AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency whose mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. It funds a variety of programs, including the Service-Engagement Corps, a new initiative that encourages students attending ICC campuses to participate in a year of service.


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