UC Davis College Corps (2024)

• About
• Eligibility
• Service Areas
• Staff
• FAQ
• News and Press

UC Davis is proud to be among the selected 45 campuses statewide for the College Corps program. Led byCalifornia Volunteersthrough theOffice of the Governor, the College Corps initiative has three goals:

• Create a generation of civic-minded leaders with the ability to bridge, divides, and solve problems.
• Help low-income students graduate college on time and with less debt.
• Address societal challenges and help build more equitable communities across California.

About College Corps

As a College Corps Fellow, you will serve 450 hours in an area of K-12 Education, Food Insecurity or Climate Action over the course of the academic year. This roughly equates to 15 hours per week.

As a College Corps Fellow you'll receive:

• Up to $7,000 living stipend (throughout term of service or up to $700/month) + $3,000 Education Award upon completion of 450 service hours.
  • AB540/Undocumented Fellows will receive up to $5,500 living stipend and will be awarded up to $4,500 per year per every 100 hours served over the course of 300 hours.
• Real-world job experience and skills to add to your resume.
• Access to training, networkingand professional development opportunities.
• Connections with Fellows across the state via a virtual platform and regional events.
• An academic course (1 unit per quarter) designed to support your professional learning throughout the experience.
• A sense of community and accomplishment in working toward the common goals of improving our community.

The amount of doors that have opened to me is insane to me and I'm so grateful to have been chosen for this program.

Eligibility

Students selected should meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Qualifies for a Federal Pell Grant.
• Qualifies for a State Cal Grant or Middle Class Scholarship.
• Needs to work part time and/or borrow student loans to meet their educational costs.
• Is an AB540-eligible student with a California Dream Act application on file (no work authorization required).

Additionally, Fellows are require to:

• Be a full-time, enrolled undergraduate student at UC Davis for the entire academic year.
• Be in good academic standing (not on academic probation); no minimum GPA required.
• Commit to the fellowship program for the entire academic year.
• Complete a background check prior to final acceptance into the fellowship.
  • AB-540 Undocumented students will not need to complete a background check unless their community host site partner requires it.
• Enroll in a 1-unit (P/NP) leadership and civic engagement class each quarter of the 2024-25 academic year.
• Attend and participate in pre-service orientation and training workshops.
• Maintain a consistent schedule with the host site and strike to serve 450-hours during the 2024-25 academic year.

Service Areas

Fellows will work with K-12 schools, food banks/pantries or climate action organizations to build healthier and more equitable communities across California. They will do this in a variety of ways:

• K-12 Education: Serve as a tutor, classroom aide, and mentorto K-12 students at local schools and/or organizations that provide tutoring services. Sites include: Davis Joint Unified School District, Woodland Joint School District, Empower YOLO, Da Vinci Charterand Step Up Tutoring.

  I was able to work with students that reminded me a lot of myself and the community in which I grew up. It occurred to me that I could potentially be a role model for those students who are considering higher education. Due to my status as an undocumented college student, I feel empowered to set an example to these students, who may face setbacks or lack of resources, but will be encouraged to pursue their dreams regardless. I believe it is very important that they have a role model that looks like them and understands their culture so that they feel represented.

• Food Insecurity: Serve at food banks,gardens, food distribution centersor centers providing access to community members facing food insecurity. Sites include: Aggie Compass, Yolo Food bank, UC Davis Student Farmand Alchemist CDC.

  I have had the privilege of working with the YOLO Food Bank and it has allowed me to gain more insight about food insecurity in our community. I have worked alongside amazing volunteers and staff who are clearly so passionateabout helping those in need.

• Climate Action: Serve with local organizations that are focused on positive environmental change. Sites include: Solar Community Housing, California Energy Alliance, California Mobility Centerand SMUD.

  I have personally planted close to 20 trees around Davis. I started the service off having never planted a tree, so I am extremely glad that I have been able to see so much progress so quickly. I am also glad that I have been able to go from completely ignorant about the subject to leading groups of 3-5 during our community weekend events and teaching others how to plant a tree for the first time.

College Corps FAQ

• What is a fellow and what is a fellowship?
• Selected undergraduate students will be referred to as College Corps Fellows throughout the duration of the program.
  The fellowship refers to the year-long commitment and service completed with an external community partner. As a College Corps Fellow, you will be assigned an external community partner to work with and complete a majority of the 450 hours of service with this community host site.
• Will this impact my financial aid?
• This program will be considered financial aid for the academic year. Each student's financial aid package is different. We encourage you to connect with the UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships department if you have questions about how this program will impact your specific situation.
• When will I hear about selection if I am a UCD student?
• College Corps has a rolling application process with 5 steps. You will be notified at each step if you are moving forward in the process. We anticipate sending final acceptances into the program by July 31, 2024 at the latest.
  Step 1: Apply Online
  Step 2: Background Check (not required for undocumented students)
  Step 3: Select top 3 host site choices and submit a letter of introduction
  Step 4: Financial Aid review (to determine eligibility)
  Step 5: Final application review and Acceptance to College Corps
• Are first-year and incoming transfer students eligible to apply?
• Yes, both incoming freshmen and transfer students can apply once you have enrolled.
• Can current College Corps Fellows reapply to serve a second term?
• Yes. College Corps Fellows can reapply.
• Is there a separate application for College Corps returners?
• No. All students complete the same application. However, some questions are only applicable to returners.
• Are College Corps returners required to attend an informational session?
• New and returning students are encouraged to attend an informational session.
• How does transportation to host sites work?
• Each Fellow is responsible for their own transportation to and from their host site. In the application, you will note whether you have transportation, what kind (car, bike, etc), and how far you are willing to travel. We will work hard to ensure placements are within a reasonable distance based on your responses. Do not let transportation be a deterrent to applying.

News and Press

The College Corps program at UC Davis has made an incredible impact for our students, local communities, and the state. Learn more about the program that has been featured in national publications showcasing the College Corps programing at UC Davis.

• UC Davis expands College Corps with $6.4M grant, aims to enhance civic engagement (bnnbreaking.com)
• California helps college students cut their debt by paying them to help their communities (hechingerreport.org)
• Grants to Local Nonprofits Strengthen Community Impact | Public Scholarship and Engagement (ucdavis.edu)
• California Begins Service Program for College Students - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
• College Corps Expands Service Learning for Students
• Gov. Gavin Newsom swear in California's first College Corps fellows
• For Many Undocumented Students, Jobs Can Be Hard to Find. This State Program Could Help | KQED
• Dr. Pablo Reguerin, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at UC Davis, discusses the importance of College Corps
• Josh Fryday, Chief Service Officer at California Volunteers, talks about this innovative program designed to curb student debt while helping Californians
• Dr. Vajra Watson of CSU Sacramento, provides a vibrant speech on the importance of educational equity
• Zane Hatfield and Natalie McDonald speak of providing food to the needy of Yolo County, including UC Davis
• Jaime Lemus of the Sac. Metro Air Quality District speaks of climate change and the need for climate action
• A panel of potential partner sites discuss what service at their sites might look like

Meet the Staff