College Corps Eligibility

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
- Read details of conviction history eligibility here
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

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

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

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

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

For more information, please contact:

Cynthia Baker-Smith, Senior Program Manager
cbakersmith@berkeley.edu