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.
With 25 former Peace Corps volunteers enrolled in the Fellows program, University of Michigan ranked No. 6 as a Peace Corps Fellows/USA school in 2011. Out of those 25 students, eight are enrolled at SNRE--a disproportionately large share of fellows and an illustration of the globally oriented and service-minded goals the school shares with the Peace Corps.
U-M and the Peace Corps announced a partnership to pair graduate studies in social work, Natural Resources and Environment, landscape architecture and a master's degree in education with Peace Corps volunteer service. The U-M School of Education, School of Natural Resources and Environment, and School of Social Work will offer selected students the opportunity to receive credit hours for their Peace Corps service through the Master's International program.