Tulane University Launches New Program to Encourage Graduates to Spend Public Service Year in New Orleans
Tulane AmeriCorps Fellows Program is a partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Franklin Project at the Aspen Institute.
Building on its role as a national leader in public service, Tulane University has partnered with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Aspen Institute’s Franklin Project to launch a pilot program that will give recent graduates an opportunity to spend a year of service making a tangible difference within communities in New Orleans.
The Tulane AmeriCorps Fellows Program, which will begin this summer, will support eight fellows who will live on campus as they work full time with nonprofits in high-need neighborhoods throughout the city. The two-year pilot program includes free housing and a monthly stipend for living expenses. Upon completion, participants will earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to cover student loans or to further their education.
“Public service is central to our mission here at Tulane. Each year our students collectively devote more than 530,000 hours to community service as part of their educational experience,” said Tulane University President Scott Cowen. “The Tulane AmeriCorps Fellows Program was envisioned as a way to help students who have developed a passion for public service extend their commitments to the community in areas where they can make a meaningful impact. I couldn’t be more pleased to expand our partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service to answer the Franklin Project’s call to create innovative programs that support the next generation of engaged citizens.”
“After Hurricane Katrina left a trail of wreckage across New Orleans, President Cowen marshaled the resources of Tulane University to help the city recover,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “Tulane’s leadership in public service has not only helped New Orleans come back stronger, it has set an example for other higher education institutions across the country. The Tulane AmeriCorps Fellows Program is a powerful new model that combines the proven community impact of AmeriCorps with the public service leadership of a great university. We are proud to be a partner in this innovative national service program that builds on our longstanding relationship with Tulane.”
The program is open to all, and Tulane students are especially encouraged to apply. The university will award Tulane alumni fellows an additional $5,000 to further their education at Tulane at the completion of the service year. Each year, 8,000 Tulane students participate in service-learning classes, volunteer projects and internships throughout the greater New Orleans region as part of their graduation requirement.
Building on Tulane’s long-lasting collaboration with CNCS—which to date has resulted in 112 AmeriCorps VISTA members serving the New Orleans community and a federal investment of $2.4 million— the Tulane AmeriCorps Fellows Program represents a significant expansion of Tulane’s service offerings and natural extension of its civic mission.
Tulane AmeriCorps Fellows Program applications are due by April 1. To apply, visit: http://tulane.edu/cps/students/tulane-national-service-fellowship.cfm .