April 10, 2012

The University of Michigan ranks No. 7 in the nation as a Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows university in the latest 2012 rankings. Of the 20 Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) at U-M, five are students in the School of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Coverdell Fellows program provides returned volunteers with scholarships, academic credit and stipends to earn an advanced degree after they complete their Peace Corps service along with professional internships helping underserved American communities. The Peace Corps Master's International program allows students to earn their graduate degree while serving in the Peace Corps. U-M is the only school in the state of Michigan with both Peace Corps Fellows and Masterí¢â‚¬â„¢s International programs.

U-M started its Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Program in 2007, offering graduate degrees in public policy and natural resources and environment. Additionally, U-M offers four Peace Corps Master' International programs in social work, education, nursing, and natural resources and environment.

U-M's 20 Fellows graduate students have served as Peace Corps volunteers in various areas around the world including the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Western Samoa and Paraguay. The Peace Corps graduate programs attract global-minded students; help Peace Corps meet host country needs for skilled professionals to serve and assist communities in key areas of need, such as environmental conservation, public health, youth and community development, and education and English teaching; and help volunteers reach higher education and career goals while bringing their overseas skills and experience back to the U.S.

The history of the Peace Corps can be traced back to the University of Michigan when at 2 a.m. on Oct.14, 1960, then U.S. Sen. John F. Kennedy addressed students on the steps of the Union.  In his speech, he challenged the students to give two years of their lives to help people in countries of the developing world.  A few short months later in March 1961, as President, Kennedy signed the Peace Corps into executive order.

Since Peace Corps was founded in 1961, some 2,458 alumni have served in Peace Corps, making U-M the No. 4 all-time producer of Peace Corps volunteers. Currently, 97 U-M alumni are serving as Peace Corps volunteers in communities abroad, ranking U-M as the No. 5 top Peace Corps volunteer-producing university in the U.S. for 2012.  Also, approximately 336 state of Michigan residents are currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, with more than 6,713 Michigan residents having served over time.

About the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program: Peace Corps partners with more than 70 colleges and universities nationwide to offer RPCVs an opportunity to earn their graduate or doctorate degree at a reduced cost. In return for financial benefits like reduced tuition, assistantships and stipends, volunteers put the skills they learned in the Peace Corps to work in professional internships in underserved American communities. Volunteers who have satisfactorily completed their Peace Corps service have lifetime eligibility for Coverdell Fellows. The program was started in 1985 at Columbia University, Teachers College and since then, nearly 4,000 Peace Corps volunteers have completed the program. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov/fellows.

About the Master's International program: Peace Corps partners with more than 80 colleges and universities nationwide to enable students to earn a masterí¢â‚¬â„¢s degree while serving in the Peace Corps. Students begin their studies on campus, serve overseas with the Peace Corps for two years, then return to school to finish graduate work. As part of a Peace Corps volunteerí¢â‚¬â„¢s service, the volunteer will work on projects related to his or her masterí¢â‚¬â„¢s studies. The program began at Rutgers Universityí¢â‚¬“Camden in 1987 and since then, more than 1,000 Peace Corps volunteers have completed the program.  For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov/masters.

About the Peace Corps: Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order March 1, 1961, more than 200,000 Americans have served in 139 host countries. Today, 9,095 volunteers are working with local communities in 75 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment and the agencyí¢â‚¬â„¢s mission is to promote world peace and friendship and a better understanding between Americans and people of other countries. Visit www.peacecorps.gov for more information.

• More on the SNRE program: http://snre.umich.edu/prospective_students/peace_corps
• Meet prospective SNRE Peace Corps Fellows: http://snre.umich.edu/prospective_students/peace_corps/meet_the_fellows
• Full the full rankings: http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/stats/mi_fellows_schools2012.pdf

Contact:

Christine Torres, public affairs
Chicago Regional Peace Corps Office
312.353.7716
ctorres2@peacecorps.gov