College Corps Application

What We're Looking For

• Passion for working in partnership with communities to make positive change;
• Flexibility to work in different areas and adapt to changing circumstances;
• 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.

When Will You Serve?

Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

What You'll Do

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:

• Tutoring
• Mentoring
• Address food insecurity

What You'll Gain: Benefits

• A living allowance paid monthly throughout service term, plus an Education Award paid upon completion of 450 service hours. Total financial benefit up to $10,000.
• Real-world job experience and skills to add to your resume
• Access to training, networking, and professional development opportunities
• Connections with Fellows across the state via a virtual community platform and in-person regional events
• A sense of pride and accomplishment in working toward a common purpose alongside young leaders from across the state

Where You'll Serve

College Corps at Rio Hondo College offers service positions with local nonprofits and municipal agencies within a reasonable distance from campus.

Please review the following statements to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria to become a College Corps Fellow. You will be asked to sign, certifying that you meet the eligibility criteria for Parts A - C.

If you have questions about whether you meet all criteria, please contact, Eliana Valdes at elvaldes@riohondo.edu or (562) 463-7036 who can help determine if you are indeed eligible. There will be an eligibility review prior to students advancing to the next steps of the application process.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

Part A. To participate, students must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:

• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent (i.e., GED) by the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year
• Enrolled full-time
• Currently be in good academic standing and remain so throughout the academic year (no minimum GPA required)
• Commit to actively participate in the program and to maintain full-time enrollment status for the entire 2023-2024 academic year
• Not planning to participate in a semester off-campus (Study Abroad) during the upcoming academic year

Part B. To successfully complete your College Corps Fellowship, students must:

• Complete a National Service Criminal History Check & Live Scan, as part of the enrollment process AB-540 students will not need to complete the National Service Criminal History Check & Live Scan unless their community host partner requires it
• Complete 450 hours of service by the end of Spring 2024. To reach this goal, students in the College Corps Program must commit to:
• Consistently serve an average of 15 hours per week throughout the academic year
• Start the program on time
• Participate fully in required pre-service orientation, trainings, and learning sessions

Part C. Students selected to join the Fellowship should meet at least (1) of the following criteria:

• Qualifies for a Federal Pell Grant
• Qualifies for a State Cal Grant or Middle Class Scholarship
• Needs to work at least part time and/or borrow student loans to meet their educational costs
• Is AB-540 Eligible
• Must have a completed & submitted California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for 2023-2024 academic year
• Must 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 also Cal Grant B eligible