As the year of service comes to a close, our AmeriCorps VISTAs set aside time to reflect on the challenges and victories of the past 12 months. For VISTA Gabe Hernandez, the last year has been a whirlwind of activity.

After finishing his undergraduate degree at Oregon State University, Hernandez looked toward joining Oregon Campus Compact to give back to his hometown community of Woodburn, Ore.

Initially he worked on the Woodburn Grow Your Own Teacher program - a partnership between Chemeketa Community College and Pacific University. The program focuses on increasing college access through mentorship.

Eventually the program piloted into French Prairie, Teach, Learn, and Grow mentoring. Hernandez described his role as capacity building – figuring out how to find mentors and promote the program.

Hernandez not only describes the experience as a success but he also sees potential for it to keep serving the community.

“This program has huge potential to serve Woodburn for years," Hernandez said. "Personally, I feel like there is support system behind it that wants to keep moving and improving."

He added that people in the Woodburn community are taking time off their summer breaks to make sure the next VISTA arrives ready to hit the ground running.

For Gabe, the Teach, Learn, and Grow mentoring provided resources for students that were sorely lacking in Woodburn.  In addition, the program brought together the  largely Hispanic population of students together with mentors who shared their backgrounds.

In addition to sharing stories and understanding, the mentors provided students with a framework to pursue higher education goals.

"It was very empowering, first couple of sessions they would be shy,” Hernandez said. “But toward the end, many of these students wanted to get on a path where they knew where they could get some help."

Hernandez knows the value of having mentors who can set one on the right path. He describes his AmeriCorps VISTA experience as one that gave him the same motivation that he was giving to the students in Woodburn.

He describes a stellar growth from learning professional etiquette to becoming a keynote speaker for the Crystal Apple Awards.

When Hernandez finished his undergrad degree, he knew that he wanted to go on to graduate school, but he was plagued by the feeling that he was not good enough to get his masters.

Hernandez credits his AmeriCorps experience with developing professional and leadership skills.

“[Oregon Campus Compact] gave the necessary skills to be confident to pursue grad school,” he said. Hernandez is returning to OSU to get his masters in the College of Student Affairs Program. He has also received an assistantship in the Center for Leadership Development that will pay for his tuition. His ultimate goal is to work with students of color at four-year universities.

As for the community in Woodburn, Hernandez said it is hard to leave the position. But he feels optimistic the program will continue to grow and give back.

“I see a bright future for the next VISTA coming in,” he said.

In celebration of Neal Naigus: Long-Serving ORCC Board Member transitions.

Neal Naigus, a long-serving member of Oregon Campus Compact’s Board of Directors stepped down from the board in June.  PCC will continued to be represented on the board by PCC: Southeast President Jessica Howard.

In addition to being on ORCC’s board, Neal has been deeply involved in the service-learning community. In his role as Assistant to the District President at Portland Community College (PCC), Naigus served as a link between the community and the college by identifying community needs and addressing these needs through college services.

This relationship between higher education and community engagement was further solidified through his work as Director of the Pacific Northwest Public Policy Institute, which trains moderators in the National Issues Forums (NIF) process of public deliberation.

Josh Todd, Executive Director for Oregon Campus Compact said that Neal’s expertise has been appreciated and his input would be missed.

"Neal has been a stalwart force on the Oregon campus compact board. He has served for years promoting service, community engaged learning, and representing Oregon's largest college- Portland Community College,” Todd said. “We will miss his critical lens and we are so thankful for his service."

“If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb

It has been one year as Executive Director of Oregon Campus Compact and it seemed fitting, as any good service-learning professional would, to reflect on what I’ve learned.  The first thing I learned is we aren’t just about service-learning here at Campus Compact.  In Oregon and at the National office in Boston, Campus Compact is becoming more focused on the question “in service of what?” 

My 6 months as Interim Director focused on working with our incredible board (led by Concordia’s President Chuck Schlimpert and joined this year by President Jessica Howard from Oregon’s newest campus- PCC: Southeast) to determine our strategic focus. 

That process led us to look at the role colleges and universities, their students, faculty, staff and Presidents can play in achieving Oregon’s 40-40-20 goal to ensure 100% of Oregonians gain a high school diploma or GED, 40% go on to earn an Associates degree, and another 40% go on to earn a Bachelors or higher. 

We spend a lot of resources both public, private and personal to ensure students graduate with degree but it is a missed opportunity if all of those students in higher education aren’t also using their education as an opportunity to learn through working with their local communities to solve some of the most pressing problems of our State. 

Just think if every single college student got out of their classrooms and engaged with communities to solve problems like the high school drop out rate, racial disparities in educational success, or college access.  That would make a huge impact and use our resources more effectively.  That is what we call a Higher IMPACT Education!

Over the past year Campus Compact in Oregon and across the nation have become more focused on network-wide our strategic priorities:

• Establish meaningful, reciprocal community partnerships – to support and highlight strong, sustainable, democratic partnerships between higher education and community organizations for positive impact on society
• Improve college access and retention – to demonstrate that civic engagement is a vehicle for positively impacting an individual ability to access and achieve post secondary education
• Enhance college readiness in K to 12 education – to improve and strengthen young people’s ability to have successful college careers
• Better prepare college students for their careers and for society – to educate the next generation of citizens to be active and responsible participants in our democracy

We are launching new programs like the College Access Corps and Connect2Complete to focus on these new goals but we want to go far so we want to go together.   How can we support you, our members in achieving these goals?  What support or programs would you like to see from the Compact over the next several years?  What are we currently doing that appreciate most?  I invite and encourage a dialogue so that together we can help achieve a Higher IMPACT Education for all Oregonians!

In partnership,

Joshua Todd

Students at Yoncalla Elementary Middle School will get a new kind of education in the next school year – mentorship. Two classes from the school are going to be “adopted” by a college access coach from Oregon State University.

The year will begin with these students meeting their adopted college student. Thereafter, every two weeks, this coach will have Skype sessions where he or she will go over topics such as comparing college to elementary school and how to financially plan for college.

This program is a partnership between the OSU Precollege Program, the Oregon State University GEAR UP program and the Oregon and Washington Campus Compact program the College Access Corps,. The College Access Corps is funded by a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The Adopt-A-Classroom/Adopt-A-College Student program was piloted in 2012 and 2013 academic years with Alder Elementary and Hauton B. Lee Middle School. Two OSU college mentors reached 250 students over the course of these years.

Kyle Cole, Precollege Programs Director, said the program did well but is limited by funding.

“The program was very successful but we do not have the funds to scale the program up,” Cole said.

With the introduction of the College Access Corps, the Adopt-A-Classroom program can expand its reach. The College Access Corps provides a full-time AmeriCorps member to coordinate and train 11 college students to be college access coaches.

Each of these 11 coaches will adopt two classrooms and will engage and mentor at least 50 students. This will allow the Precollege program expand its reach to Ford Family Foundation GEAR UP schools, according to Cole.

“The CAC Coordinator will enable us to increase the capacity of the program and offer it to the Ford Family Foundation GEAR UP Schools,” Cole said. “The partnership will allow us to connect at least 550 new GEAR UP students with a college student mentor.”

This is good news for Yoncalla Elementary Middle School, a K-8th grade school with 209 students. It is a small school serving a small town of about 1000 people. 87 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch according to the Oregon Department of Education income eligibility guidelines.

Yoncalla Elementary Middle School will join ten other schools such as Joseph Lane Middle School in Roseburg, North Douglas Elementary Middle School in Drain, and the Reedsport Community Charter School.  All Ford Foundation GEAR UP schools chosen as host sites have at least a 50 percent or higher student population eligible for free or reduced priced lunch.

At the end of the school year, the students meet with their coach a second time at Oregon State, according to Cole.

“Many of the GEAR UP students will visit OSU through our Campus Field Trip program where they can meet their college student mentors in their natural habitat,” Cole said.

No one knew what to expect the first time the college mentor visited his adopted students. Cole wondered if the students would even recognize him or connect with him.  Thankfully, those fears were misplaced.

“They didn't know he was coming for a visit and when they recognized him in the hall, they mobbed him,” Cole said. “He was a rock star to them.”

We at ORCC wish Arashi Young well as she moves on to new ventures.  We asked her to reflect on her time at ORCC and what life lessons she took home from her experiences.

Before I worked at ORCC, my only exposure to AmeriCorps was a close friend who served two years at Trout Lake in Washington. I remember visiting and feeling in awe at the camaraderie they had with each other.

Working at ORCC brought me close to that same feeling of service and teamwork. Now, I am in awe of the people I have met through this experience. They are some of the most determined and unflappable folks I have ever met. They get amazing work done and yet still manage to be thoughtful, caring, silly, and sweet.

I have worked in small businesses and large corporations, I have worked in governments, public radio and I have freelanced by myself. Oregon Campus Compact is the first non-profit that I have ever worked for. I had this idea that non-profits were the scrappy second cousin of businesses or governments. ORCC has opened my eyes to the world of local and regional non-profits and the network of support in the Portland area. 

I feel lucky that I got a first-hand look at all the good work being done to change the world: mentorship programs, service-learning, food drives, neighborhood cleanups, college access programing, equity and social justice reforms... the list goes on. It is uplifting to know that there are so many people are constantly fighting to do this good work.

I am grateful for this experience and the wonderful people I have met here. I wish ORCC the best as they continue to push for equitable college access.

Position responsibilities:

College Access Corps Program Coordination (50%)

• Lead, coach, and provide technical assistance to a team of 13 AmeriCorps members across the State of Oregon to achieve service performance and develop as leaders.
  
• Maintain rigorous oversight for all AmeriCorps compliance requirements related to our national service program, including background check processes, enrollment, exit timekeeping practices, quality assurance and careful monitoring against CNCS Prohibited Activities;
  
• Conduct site visits to campuses & community partners throughout the year;
  
• Support campuses & community partners throughout the member recruitment and placement process;
  
• Provide technical assistance to campus supervisors, including training and support in the management of AmeriCorps members.
  
• Assist in developing training plan to enhance AmeriCorps member service and increase professional development and leadership skills;
  
• Act as liaison with Washington Campus Compact, the grant holder for College Access Corps and has lead responsibility for all grant reports and documentation

Connect2Complete K12 AmeriCorps Program (25%)

• Support a team of 12 minimum time AmeriCorps members serving to improve attendance for K12 students.
  
• Manage recruitment, selection and onboarding of AmeriCorps members;
  

• Support candidates throughout the member recruitment and placement process;
  
• Train and orient AmeriCorps Members;
  
• Provide on-going technical assistance and project support to team, in coordination with the Connect2Complete Community College Program Manager.
  
  

Communications and Development (25%)

• Develop content and design for the ORCC Enews and AmeriCorps Corps Report newsletters;
  
• Lead staff on updating and developing agency website (self publishing weebly platform);
  
• Coordinate and promote ORCC mission and activity on social media;
  
• Grant writing, event planning, and other development work as assigned.
  
  

Desired knowledge/skills

• Ability to support and train members across racial, cultural, class, and gender differences;
  
• Experience with AmeriCorps or national service programs is desired;
  
• Knowledge and/or experience with service-learning, higher education/community partnerships;
  
• Program coordination and management;
  
• Event planning, training/adult education, media/public relations;
  
• Excellent organizational and communication skills;
  
• Fundraising and grant writing experience preferred;
  
• Valid Driver’s License required.
  
  

Education Requirements: Associates Degree or higher required with 1-3 years of project management experience.

Parameters

The starting annual salary rate for this position will be between $36,000-$44,000, dependant upon qualifications and experience with a competitive benefits package including health, dental, mental health, alternative care, retirement, short-term and long-term disability, and vacation package.

This position requires travel out of state, as well as in state. Valid driver’s license required. Out of state applicants, if chosen must obtain an Oregon’s driver’s license within 3 months.

Relationship With Others

Employees have regular contact with the public, in person, via email, and by telephone, to promote awareness of and interest in AmeriCorps and to persuade the public to take an active part as AmeriCorps Members or as participating sites. Employee will have occasional contact in person, via email, and by telephone with members of the media or legislature to promote awareness of a program, project, or event.

Supervision Received

Employees receive general supervision from the Executive Director who reviews the work through daily informal personal contact and/or weekly or monthly meetings and conferences. Work is reviewed to assess progress and conformance to program goals and objectives. Work is also reviewed through written narrative reports and observation of written program documents to determine effectiveness and conformance to agency/program procedures. Employees use agency policies and procedures, State and Federal rules and regulations, and program procedural manuals as guidelines in providing program services and dealing with the public.

To apply

Please send cover letter, resume, responses to supplemental questions, and 3 references to collegeaccesscorps@oregoncampuscompact.org with College Access & Communications Program Manager in the subject line. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.


Supplemental Questions:

1) Both the College Access Corps and Connect2Complete K12 are new programs starting up this year. How would you ensure ORCC develops strong, reciprocal partnerships in the communities our AmeriCorps members will serve? Describe other times you have had to develop, maintain, and manage collaborative relationships.

2) Explain your experience managing other national service programs. If you have not managed a national service program, share an experience or the skills you possess that would allow you to effectively manage a complex, multi-site program, spread across a broad geographic area with attention to detail and interpersonal relationships.

3) Describe your skills and experiences developing and conducting training. If possible, specifically discuss your experience leading conversations and learning on race, power, privilege, and educational and/or economic disparities.

4) Share your experiences and knowledge that would make you an effective communications coordinator for ORCC. Include any experience you have writing official publications, managing social media, web development, and/or grant writing or fundraising work where you had to effectively communicate the mission of an organization.

The host sites for the 2014-2015 College Access Corps have been chosen. These sites will host an AmeriCorps member who will develop, implement or expand college access programs. The AmeriCorps member will also recruit college students who will be trained as college access coaches.

The 2014-2015 College Access Corps host sites:

• Friends of the Children
• Roosevelt College Mentor Program
• Native American Youth & Family Center
• Chemeketa Woodburn Campus
• Portland Public Schools- Gear Up
• Oregon State University- Gear Up
• Elevate Oregon
• Down Syndrome Association of Southern Oregon
• I Have A Dream
• Boys & Girls Club of Marion County
• Roosevelt High School Writing Center
• Benson High School

These sites have been reviewed by ORCC staff and community partners. Host sites were chosen based on numerous factors, the most important being the ability for their program to improve college access rates for their K-12 student populations.

Oregon Campus Compact in partnership with Washington Campus Compact announce the College Access Corps, a new program focused on increasing high school graduation rates and expanding access to higher education.

The program is funded through a grant with the Corporation for National and Community Service, which will place 55 AmeriCorps members in Washington and Oregon.  12 members in Oregon will help participating partners develop, implement, and expand K -12 college access programs.

The AmeriCorps members will train and recruit college students to become college access coaches to economically disadvantaged youth in schools, or to student groups that have a student population that is at least 50% eligible for the federally-funded free/reduced lunch program.

The goal is to have 500 students trained as college access coaches who will provide at least 15 hours of college access intervention to 4,500 K-12 youth. These coaches will address academic engagement, academic preparedness, and knowledge regarding applying and paying for college education.

ORCC’s Executive Director, Josh Todd said, "Oregon Campus Compact is excited to launch the College Access Corps because it aligns so closely with our strategic direction to use service as a critical tool on college campuses and in the community to improve Oregon's educational outcomes!"

For more information on College Access Corps contact Josh Todd at josh@oregoncampuscompact.org or 503-406-3575.

Pdf of this press release.

Oregon Campus Compact has partnered with CollegeServe to offer our member campuses access to the CollegeServe management software.  

ORCC members will receive the set-up and the first years' membership fees for free.  This set up fee is normally $2500 and the first years' fees are $5000, that's a $7500 benefit for being a Campus Compact member.

Because we believe in the power of college students to create a better world and the value of service on educational outcomes even non-members can benefit; by mentioning ORCC they can have their set up fees waived.

If any non member campus has been thinking about becoming an Oregon Campus Compact member, now is the time.  Joining ORCC will waive these first year fees and any campus under 7000 FTE will experience significant and continuing savings in the years after.

CollegeServe is an award-winning volunteer management tool that will organize volunteers and raise the profile of service on college campuses.  For more information, contact Josh Todd at 503.406.3575.

Become a Summer AmeriCorps VISTA Member and spend your summer continuing to serve while receiving some help paying for college and gaining experience in the education and nonprofit sectors!
 
What is the Summer AmeriCorps*VISTA Program and what do members do? 
AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Summer VISTA Members will serve with community organizations or school districts in the Portland-area for 8 weeks. They'll prepare rising 9th graders for a successful transition to high school through tutoring, volunteer management, and program coordination.

When does the program take place?
VISTAs will serve with their site from Wed., June 18 - Fri., Aug 11th. They'll also attend a two-day orientation on June 16th and 17th. Hours vary by site. 

What are the benefits? Do I get paid? 
This is a great program that gives you the opportunity to spend your summer in service while gaining experience in the education and nonprofit sectors. VISTAs also receive a $450 living stipend every two weeks during service and a $1,174 education award that can help pay for school or your qualified education loans!

I want to apply or learn more! 
We are having two recruitment fairs and they are THE BEST way to get connected. Attending one of the two fairs will give you a chance to meet the sites, ask questions, and complete a first interview with Oregon Campus Compact. Fairs are held on Monday, April 14th at Concordia University from 5-6:30pm and Wednesday, April 16th at Warner Pacific College from 5-6:30pm. Click here to learn more and sign up!