We had occasion this week to sign a 5-year extension of an arrangement with the Peace Corps, whereby volunteers can participate in several of our Masters programs before and/or after service and gain some credit for their Peace Corps work itself. The arrangement — and Mason is not the only university to have one — was negotiated amid some complexities; it’s always amazing and a bit disturbing how difficult inter-interstitutional collaborations can be, with accreditation rules on our side a major stumbling block at times. But it has worked very well. We have had, or have in process, over 30 students. We’ve been able to add a program for the current extension, in conflict resolution, which the Corps is very excited about.
And it’s an occasion additionally to note broader relationships between the Peace Corps effort and what we do at Mason. We’ve had over 240 Mason graduates serve in the Corps. I know from talking with students what a great fit this kind of service is with Mason training and with longer term career aspirations. It turns out, as well, that the Corps hopes to expand and also that other kinds of focused collaborations may be worth discussing, where for example both the Corps and the university are targeting new initiatives (for example, in Sierra Leone).
So the chance to celebrate something that’s worked and to build additional elements for the future was a welcome one at a time of year when simply keeping one’s head above water often seems challenge enough.
Can I take advantage of this collaboration as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer thirty years after my dates of service?
Dear Ms. Dillon,
We could certainly discuss use of relevant Peace Corps work for limited credit in one of the Masters programs — I don’t know what the conclusion would be, but we can explore. Please contact Michelle Marks, who oversees our graduate programs, if you wish to pursue this.
Peter N. Stearns, Provost
I think it’s great that Peace Corps could pay for education before service, but that would not work with Hillary’s free government service academy for potential government employees. This might be where you run up against resistance because they want the academy, not regular US universities offering a program they plan on building a university with.
Conflict resolution has been a problem for PC since safety and security is a major issue with PC. PC isn’t in that work, although their web site recently stated they are, which can lead PCs into wars like Afghanistan. It’s not fair to put a PC in a conflict situation since they are paid poverty wages. It’s like WW1 and those soldiers having to fight for pay. PCs would qualify for officers pay in a conflict situation.
I wouldn’t let PC put you in a country focused situation. It minimizes the global work that the university and PC does, as well as the PCs to countries when PC is a global organization.
The issue of schooling and other benefits from service has come into the news again with some appointments. Americorps limits some of their benefits to three years after full time service. PC used to do this too, but there were complaints at NPCA and this rule was waived as not good for the agency. A time limit makes the service work less valuable.
http://www.learnandserve.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1586
Some new grants for service learning at higher education. These are also pre service and in service. It’s not a lot of money compared to the other grants to universities that don’t require service workers to get the grant, but they are over three years.
PC training was originally done in the US and was very successful. Cost savings could be found here, but PC has cut ‘evac,’ medical and country wide, funds, so they won’t give up training in country which is a huge expense. I like the idea of pre service, service and in service training in the US. It would bring a lot home from the service workers as they serve and host country nationals to the US to teach at US universities.