The overarching goal of the AmeriCorps Mentoring Program is to work towards the retention of college students who identify as first-generation, low-income, and/or students of color. The avenue to which retention will be met is through much-needed peer mentoring and other student support roles from upperclassmen. AmeriCorps members (i.e. students or recent graduates) in the program will foster relationships with current college students, providing them assistance in academic and personal needs to help them thrive and succeed in college. Additionally, the program will incorporate civic engagement tools and training to improve the understanding of what it means to be an active and engaged citizen both on campus and within the community.
Is the AmeriCorps Mentoring Program a good fit for your campus?
If your campus is looking for ways to increase retention through a new mentoring program or are looking to bolster or expand already existing programing, then this program is a good fit! Interested host sites should fill out this short form.
Heidi Pries, AmeriCorps Supervisor at Grand View University
“Because of the support of this program, we have been able to create initiatives that support retention efforts for our first-year students.”
Service Parameters
Host sites, typically Iowa institutions of higher education, administer the program on their campus and supervise AmeriCorps members. All aspects of AmeriCorps, including training, are supported and administered by Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact staff. AmeriCorps members will serve in mentoring and student support roles on their campus. Host sites have the option to choose between 100-hour (abbreviated-time), 300-hour (minimum-time), 900-hour (half-time) or 1700-hour (full-time) positions. AmeriCorps position types are detailed below but have flexibility in how they are utilized.
- Abbreviated-time (100-hour) Position: Geared toward second and third-year students. Service term ranges between 3-4 months. Member serves underclassmen in mentoring or leadership role.
- Minimum-time (300-hour) Position: Geared toward second to fourth-year students. Service term ranges between 8-9 months. Member serves underclassmen in mentoring or leadership role.
- Half-time (900-hour) Position: Geared toward recent graduates. Service term is 9 months. Member serves college students in mentoring or leadership role and helps implement program on campus.
- Full-time (1700-hour) Position: Geared toward recent graduates. Service term is 11 months. Member serves college students in mentoring or leadership role and helps implement program on campus.
AmeriCorps Member Benefits
All AmeriCorps members receive an education award upon successful completion of their service term. Education award amounts are determined by their position type and increase with the number of hours served. More information about education awards can be found here. All members in the program also receive valuable AmeriCorps and professional development training provided by IAMNCC staff. Additional member benefits can be provided upon request.
- Abbreviated-time Position: Unpaid position only. Receives education award. No cost to host site.
- Minimum-time Position: Option for paid or unpaid position.
- Unpaid: Receives education award only. No cost to host site.
- Paid: Receives $4,500 + education award. Host site fee of $2,000.
- Half-time Position: Paid position only. Receives $12,000 + education award. Host site fee of $4,000.
- Full-time Position: Paid position only. Receives $22,500 + education award. Host site fee of $7,000
Jaiden Ackerson, Full-time AmeriCorps Member
“AmeriCorps has given me the opportunity to identify my strengths, passions, and motivations, and the experience has equipped me with every tool I need to launch into a career I care about.”
