Clarkson University has been named a School of National Service by AmeriCorps.
The new nationwide initiative will improve college access and affordability for AmeriCorps alumni. Through the project, participating schools will provide incentives and awards to the alumni in recognition of their service, encouraging them to attend their institution.
Clarkson, which was already participating in AmeriCorps’ Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Matching Program, will now also officially be listed as a School of National Service.
"I am so proud that Clarkson's Master of Arts in Teaching programs have been recognized as an AmeriCorps School of National Service," said Department of Education Chair and Associate Director of the Institute for STEM Education Catherine Snyder. "AmeriCorps' goal is to highlight schools who increase access and affordability to individuals pursuing higher education. One of the Master of Arts in Teaching program founding goals is to increase access to the teaching profession. We do this through our work with our P-12 school partners, grants, and in particular, scholarships.
"Clarkson has scholarships to support Black educators; scholarships for students interested in teaching in specific fields such as math, sciences, or ESL; and merit scholarships. It is rewarding to be recognized by AmeriCorps for the hard work we have been doing to increase access to the teaching profession."
After completing their service, AmeriCorps members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which can be used to pay educational expenses at eligible post-secondary institutions or to repay qualified student loans. Clarkson matches the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award with a 100-percent match.
Clarkson will increase its applicant pool by gaining access to AmeriCorps alumni – a network nearly 1.2 million strong – who have earned billions of dollars in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards.
Building upon AmeriCorps’ long-standing partnership with higher education, the Schools of National Service project will continue the already-proven role AmeriCorps has had in helping its alumni reach their goals. Not only are AmeriCorps alumni more likely to attain a bachelor’s degree or higher than the average American adult, but 80 percent of alumni say AmeriCorps benefitted their career path.
The Clarkson Master of Arts in Teaching program is a nationally recognized program of excellence with a 100% job placement rate for graduates and a unique full-year teaching internship. STEM subjects include biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, general science, computer science, mathematics and technology. In the humanities and social sciences, Clarkson offers teaching degrees in business, English, social sciences English as a Second Language, and seven world languages. Learn more at http://clarkson.edu/graduate/master-arts-teaching.
AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges, through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of the national culture. Learn more at http://AmeriCorps.gov.
