Frequently Asked Questions

PROSPECTIVE PEACE CORPS FELLOWS

What is the Mission Statement of MU?

Scholarship and teaching are driven by a sense of public service – the obligation to produce and disseminate knowledge that will improve the quality of life in the state,
the nation and the world. The program has 3 main goals:

1) To create and implement a sustainable service-learning project based on a community need

2) To "internationalize" the campus and community by speaking about the benefits of international experience

3) to use the Peace Corps experience to enhance academic work in the classroom and in research/ teaching assistantships 

Why is MU interested in the Peace Corps Fellows Program?

The University’s objective is to utilize the Peace Corps experience and the enthusiasm of RCPVs as an on-campus human resource, in combination with nationally-known research and teaching graduate programs, to create an educational environment that enhances the quality and output of our graduate programs.

This program provides graduate students who are returned volunteers (RPCVs) with a broad range of educational choices to utilize and build upon their Peace Corps experience for the benefit of local, national and international communities. The City of Columbia and MU are poised for this partnership to meet the new challenges and needs of a growing international population and the increasing need for a global perspective among MU students. Realization of this goal requires sensitivity to cultural differences and skills for multi-cultural communication that are key elements of the Peace Corps experience. These attributes are also consistent with the sense of citizenship and public service necessary to improve the quality of life locally, nationally, and internationally.

What is MU’s connection to the Peace Corps?

Brady Deaton, MU Chancellor and an RPCV (Thailand, 62-64), has made internationalization the cornerstone of his vision and strategic initiatives for MU “so our students gain a more comprehensive understanding of this very complex world we’re living in – with different religions, different cultures, different languages.” Currently, there are RPCVs at MU (i.e., students, staff, and faculty) who serve as informal recruiters and advocates for the Peace Corps. The fellows program takes the obvious next step in establishing a graduate student group of RPCVs to collectively serve as ambassadors of global awareness throughout the University environment and surrounding communities.

How do I apply?

You can either email the coordinator of the program (Dr. Don Spiers, spiersd@missouri.edu; Venezuela, 73-75) or directly contact one of the participating departments.

Which are the participating departments at MU?

Geography, School of Social Work, Political Science, Truman School of Public Affairs, Rural Sociology, and Agricultural Economics

May I apply online?

Applicants need to contact the appropriate department to determine if this is possible.

Who are the Peace Corps Fellows and what are the criteria for being a Fellow?

Fellows must have served in the Peace Corps, and accepted by one of the participating
departments at MU. There is no limit since the time they served in the Peace Corps.

The department must first accept the applicant, contingent upon them receiving a fellowship, and commit to providing some funding. This amount must be agreed upon between the department and the governing committee prior to the initiation of this process. The department then recommends the applicant to the governing committee, and it decides on which applicants get the fellowships. The preliminary date for application is February 9 for fall semester. If money is still available after this point there will be a second call.

The governing committee will consist of nine individuals (i.e., a selected member from each of the six participating departments; the Fellows’ coordinator; the Service Learning coordinator; and a representative from the Graduate School). All are voting members.

An advisory committee, composed of staff and faculty who are RPCVs, will be formed to assist the coordinator in recruitment and evaluation of progress.

Can RPCV graduate students who are not supported by the Fellows Program participate in the Fellows Program?

Those RPCV students who are not Fellows, but who want to participate in the Program, will have to take part in the Service Learning component and all activities scheduled by and for the Fellows. There will be a fee waiver if the applicant qualifies for the program based upon established criteria, and is provided at least a quarter-time assistantship by the department. These students may be classified as Fellows.

What is Service Learning?

A Peace Corps Fellowship includes the expectation that students will use their academic and Peace Corps experience to benefit the community. Engagement with the community must be active, developed in partnership with those affected, and mutually beneficial to all involved.

  1. Fellows will work together to address a recognized community issue from an interdisciplinary perspective.
  2. The issue and approach—to be developed by the Fellows in cooperation with the Office of Service-Learning, community partners, and the Departments--should be appropriate to the interests and expertise of the Fellows, address an identified need of the community, and have outcomes mutually beneficial to Boone County residents, agencies, and Fellows. It should also have applicability to research for those individuals and disciplines involved.
  3. Fellows will spend approximately 10 hours per week in service or activities directly related to their service.
  4. The Office of Service-Learning will meet with the Fellows group at least once per month to discuss progress toward goals and facilitate reflection on qualitative issues related to service. It is expected that the Fellows will also incorporate their learning into their regular classes and other academic work.

Why is Service Learning Important?

The service learning project will challenge the student to utilize their experience gained in the Peace Corps, together with knowledge from their graduate discipline, in a “real world” setting. This experience will generate a positive change in the student by allowing them to evaluate their knowledge base to determine the additional information that they need to gain from their graduate program. More importantly this will benefit the community as it incorporates an understanding of international, multicultural issues into their system.

What are the benefits of the Peace Corps Fellows Program?

I have received a letter of admission from the university does this mean I am admitted to the Peace Corps Fellows Program?

No – you also have to be notified in a separate mailing of your acceptance into the Fellows Program.

How many fellows are in the program?

Five fellows will participate in the Program in 2007-2008, followed by an additional five in 2008-2009

What does the Peace Corps Fellows Program hope to accomplish?