In-Person Orientation

In-Person Orientation

Orientation Overview Students of Service Basics Allowable Service Activities 3 Phases of Service Member Agreement Enrollment Paperwork Questions? Please remember to sign the SOS In-Person Orientation Sign-In Sheet provided by your SOS Campus Partner!

What is Students of Service? Students of Service (SOS) is a part-time AmeriCorps program offering education awards to college students who serve as mentors to increase the academic engagement of K-12 students in their community. Civic Engagement Challenge By joining SOS, you are recognizing yourself as a member of a larger social fabric, committed to working with others in the community to solve social problems, improve lives, and strengthen communities. While serving in SOS, we challenge you to think about what it means to be a civically engaged citizen and why it is important now and in the future.

How is SOS Funded?

Program Goals Increase the academic engagement of K-12 students through mentoring Develop SOS members and K-12 students civic skills, attitudes, and habits Engage SOS members and K-12 students in serving their local communities

SOS Term of Service 300 hours = $1,175 education award A person can be awarded up to 4 AmeriCorps awards in a lifetime, (but cannot exceed the equivalent of 2 full-year terms of service ( member service years ). 300 hours =.21 member service years

Enrolling in SOS is a Serious Commitment! Enroll only if you are certain you can complete your 300 hours of service. If you terminate early, your position cannot be given to another student. You will receive your education award upon the completion of your 300 hours of service.

Term of Service is Made Up of: At least 80% Direct Service Up to 20% Member Development

What is Direct Service? Hands On This will include working directly with the K-12 students mentoring, performing service-learning activities, etc. Face to Face 51% of direct service must be face to face with the community. No more than 49% may be in the form of administrative service which is needed to coordinate or support the direct service. This can include marketing an event, staff meeting time, doing follow-up calls, writing reports, etc.

What Does Not Qualify for Direct Service Hours? Any service that is purely administrative, such as a research position, clerical work, etc. Any internship with a for-profit organization. Any position that involves activities on the list of prohibited activities. Any international volunteer work. Lobbying, Political, Religious, or other Advocacy activities. Sleeping time on overnights or travel time.

What is Membership Development? Encourages members to strive for goals that would help them in developing their ability to better serve their community now and/or in the future. Examples of Membership Development: Learning a new language to better serve your target community Taking a course in Early Childhood Development to better serve as a mentor Attending a diversity workshop or conference Reflecting on your service

3 Phases of Service Enrollment Service Exit

Enrollment Phase 1. Review the Pre-Service Overview 2. Contact your SOS Campus Partner to schedule an In- Person Orientation 3. Attend In-Person Orientation 4. Complete Enrollment Paperwork ASAP 5. Schedule your FBI Fingerprint Check and share your results 6. Sign up for My AmeriCorps account online after your SOS Campus Partner notifies you of your enrollment!

Service/Exit Phases 1. Complete service hours at your site and complete/submit monthly time logs 2. Participate in reflection sessions led by your SOS Campus Partner 3. At 90% completion of service, begin exit paperwork 4. Submit exit paperwork with final time log (upon approval, term is complete) 5. Education Award can be accessed online (through your My AmeriCorps portal) immediately upon exit

Before enrolling, all members are required to read and fully understand the contents of the Member Agreement. The next few slides touch on especially important areas to understand.

Required ID In order to enroll in the SOS program, you must provide an acceptable form of identification. US Birth Certificate US Passport Permanent Resident Card Others described in the Member Agreement and Enrollment Packet

Criminal Record Check All members are required to have a FBI Fingerprint Check and Criminal History Check on file and a name check completed on the National Sex Offender Public Registry. Registered sex offenders or members showing a murder conviction on their criminal record check will not be allowed to participate in the SOS program. All other convictions appearing on a member s criminal record check will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Loan Forbearance/Interest Accrual As an SOS member you are eligible to have a portion of the loan interest (which is accruing while you serve) paid at the end of your term by the National Service Trust. If you are a full-time student, all your loans may be in loan deferment and there would be no need to ask for forbearance. Forbearances may be requested using www.my.americorps.gov after you have created your account. Loan holders may or may not choose to grant forbearances. Interest accrual payments are made at the end of your term of service, no more than 90 days following, and are done via the www.my.americorps.gov page. For more details on Loan Forbearance, contact your loan holder and/or financial aid officer.

Prohibited Activities The following cannot be counted as service hours. A full list can be found in the Member Agreement. Attempting to influence legislation Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, or strikes Engaging in partisan political activities Engaging in religious instruction, constructing or operation facilities devoted to religious instruction, or proselytizing Conducting a voter registration drive Providing abortion services or referrals Activities that pose a significant safety risk Performing any services or duties, or engaging in any activities, prohibited under the nonduplication, nondisplacement, or nonsupplantation requirements relating to employees and volunteers

Paperwork Requirements Members are responsible for completing and submitting all required paperwork by the assigned deadlines. Members are required to provide up-to-date contact information. Failure to complete program requirements (including not fully completing paperwork) may result in the member being released from their term of service and exited without an award.

Civil Rights, Drug Free Workplace, and Reasonable Accommodation Members are responsible for understanding all three policies as outlined in the Member Agreement. SOS values service by all individuals and will provide reasonable accommodations when needed.

Pass out Enrollment Packet

Enrollment Packet Please remember to carefully read the entire Enrollment Packet and complete every page! All pages are signed and dated as appropriate All handwriting is legible Site Agreement is filled out completely

Time Log Guidelines IMPORTANT Follow these instructions to make sure your time log is valid! Always keep a photocopy for yourself One time log per month Round hours for each day to the nearest half hour Double check your math No cross-outs, white-outs, or changes on time logs Provide descriptions of all service activities The same Site Supervisor who signed your Site Agreement must also sign your time logs Must be signed by you and your Site Supervisor within 30 days of the last hours served (i.e. if you served on June 15th, the time log must be signed by July 15th) Always provide original signatures

Questions?