> Office for Community Involvement
 Non-Stipend AmeriCorps Positions at MSU Students can commit to 300, 450, or 900 hour terms of service and upon successful completion of the term they receive an education award that can be used for current tuition needs, to pay off student loans, or to help finance graduate school. The student has seven years to use the award.
The award sizes are:
$1,000 for a 300 hour one year position
$1,250 for a 450 hour one year position
$1,800 for a 675 hour one year position
$2,362 for a 900 hour two year position
Students enrolled in the 300, 450, and 675 hour positions have 12 months form the date they are enrolled to complete the hours. Those in the 900 hour positions have a full 24 months to complete their term of service and earn their award.
Student Teachers and AmeriCorps
In the first semester of the program most students who were enrolled in positions were extra-curricular volunteers at a community non-profit. In the spring of 2007 however, the program was offered to student teachers in elementary and secondary schools that met certain criteria. The school had to be Title 1, or have over 50% of the3 students on free and reduced lunch programs, or a certain percentage of the kids had to have standardized test scores below proficiency. These schools were deemed schools in need. The student teachers were able to count the hours worked as a student teacher toward the hours required for the Non-Stipend AmeriCorps Position.
Academics and AmeriCorps
This year we have expanded to include education students, counseling students, nursing students, architecture students, and students in a variety of other disciplines. Many of these students are receiving education awards for community work that is already required of them by their academic departments. Students can try to complete academically required internships and practicum’s with a non-profit or tax-exempt to qualify for AmeriCorps positions. The number of positions available at MSU is currently unlimited as long as the work being done meets AmeriCorp’s guidelines. These awards act as incentives for students to start or continue their work in the community by assisting them in covering their higher education expenses.
Work-Study and AmeriCops
Students who have been awarded federal work-study as part of their financial aid package can choose to work at a non-profit or tax-exempt organization and count the time spent at their work-study job toward an AmeriCorps position.
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