Eligibility
- Must be enrolled at UC Berkeley as a full-time undergraduate for the 2023-24 year
- Students cannot be incoming first year students (transfer students may be eligible)
- Must be in good academic standing
- Cannot study abroad or live outside the Bay Area for the 2023-24 year
- Must be available to serve in person during June and July 2024 or, if not, must be able to serve 12+ hours/week throughout the academic year to meet the 450 hour service requirement
- Must have received a high school diploma or GED
- Be willing to complete a National Service Criminal History Check & Live Scan in order to formally enroll
- Students should demonstrate financial eligibility by being eligible for either:
- a federal Pell grant
- a State Cal Grant or Middle Class Scholarship
- qualify as an AB-540 Dreamer
- and/or needs to work or borrow loans to meet college costs
- AB-540 eligible applicants must:
- have submitted a complete California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for 2023-2024
- have financial need
- be an active recipient of a Cal Grant B Award for the 2023-2024 academic year OR be an active recipient of a Cal Grant A Award who is eligible for a Cal Grant B Award
- submit a CA DSIG Application by September 1 to become eligible for the $3,000 Education Award
Expectations
- Serve 450 hours from late August 2023-July 31, 2024 through an in-person community service placement
- Service hours will average 10-12 hours/week with the possibility of longer hours in June/July 2024
- Participate in an orientation, mid-year meeting, & an evening 2-hour pod meetings every other week with Fellows in your issue area
- Participate in a regional service day & virtual meetings with College Corps Fellows across the state of California
Benefits
- Graduate with less debt as College Corps Fellows will receive $10,000 through:
- a $7,000 living stipend paid monthly throughout your active service term
- a $3,000 Education Award upon successful completion of 450 hours
- Be part of the second cohort of students in a first-of-its-kind statewide partnership addressing societal challenges and helping to build more equitable communities across California
- Serve in a community service placement focused on an issue you care about: Food Justice, Climate Justice, K-12 Education, or Youth Behavioral Health & Well-Being
- Participate in training, professional development, and exposure to the skills and collaboration needed for community change
- Network with community leaders and students from across campus and the state of CA who are committed to building stronger communities
- Gain hands-on, real world experience and professional skills that will transfer to future endeavors
- Instill a sense of pride and common purpose as you work alongside fellow student leaders from across the state
What We’re Looking For
- Passion for working in partnership with communities to make positive change
- Growth mindset and eagerness to try new things
- Interest in connecting with and learning from other students and partners across the state
- Willingness to be an ambassador for the Fellowship on campus and beyond
What You’ll Do
- As a College Corps Fellow you’ll be matched with a Bay Area community service placement where you’ll work for 10-12 hours/week with the option of more service hours in June and July 2024
- Placements will be with a local nonprofit community organization or agency or a public school
- Your work will focus on either food or climate justice, K-12 education, or youth behavioral health & well-being
- You’ll share successes and challenges and will learn from your peers in biweekly pod meetings; each pod will consist of 20 College Corps Fellows all focused on the same community issue (food, climate, education, or health)
- You will have opportunities to apply your learning from orientation, College Corps pod meetings and virtual trainings, and from a roster of approved credit-bearing courses that will provide a foundation for your service
Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
Cynthia Baker-Smith, Senior Program Manager
cbakersmith@berkeley.edu