A new, official partnership between St. Ambrose University (SAU) and the Peace Corps will allow undergraduates to be formally recognized by the worldwide nonprofit as active, and informed, global citizens who are ready to serve.
Peace Corps Prep is a new program offered at SAU that prepares students for intercultural service abroad. Students who earn the certificate can be stronger candidates for volunteer positions within the Peace Corps or other service programs, and they will gain skills and a cultural worldview that employers value.
"Through this partnership with the Peace Corps, we hope to prepare our students for a life of service so they may go forward to live in a manner that shows their dedication to service for others and for the world. In addition, we seek to prepare our students for international development fieldwork and potential Peace Corps service," said Professor Duk Kim, PhD, director of International Studies and coordinator of the Peace Corps Prep program at SAU.
To fulfill the requirements, students will take courses to hone their intercultural competency, build their foreign language skills, and grow their professional and leadership abilities. Students also will complete a few courses and 50 hours of service or work that is related to one of six sectors the Peace Corps identifies as priorities: education, health, environment, agriculture, youth in development, and community and economic development.
SAU already offers a large number of service activities and courses within each major and minor that will meet the program requirements. In many cases, students can earn the certificate without adding extra courses.
The program is open to all undergraduate students and they can start working with their faculty advisor now to outline a plan of study.
"Service is a core value at St. Ambrose University and students are presented with many opportunities to grow and develop a life that focuses on service through various activities as part of their education," Kim said.
"Participation in PC Prep is a natural fit for many students, as it allows them a structured path to hone their future professional skills, intercultural competence, and foreign language abilities, which dovetails extremely well with SAU's focus on service learning and social justice," he added.
In addition to Kim, SAU's Peace Corps Prep advisory committee includes three Ambrosians who served in the Peace Corps:
- Melissa Sharer, PhD, Assistant Professor and Director of Master of Public Health program, served in Armenia.
- Jenny Ferrell, an administrative assistant in the Office of Enrollment Management, served in Ghana.
- Kate Horberg, an administrative assistant in the Master of Public Health program, served in Cameroon.
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