The Cal Poly College Corps program works with campus and community partners to place students in year-long paid fellowships. Fellows will focus on key issues related to climate action and environmental justice, food insecurity, and K-12 education.

As a student participating in College Corps you will:

• Commit to a a year of service (September 2023 through June 2024) during which you will complete 450 hours of meaningful work while honing professional and educational skills and knowledge, exploring career opportunities, and building/expanding your networks with community professionals. This breaks down to about 12-15 hours a week at your fellowship site.
• Engage in real-world job experiences that can bolster and strengthen your resume.
• Enroll in a 1-unit College Corps course.
• Attend professional development trainings and workshops.
• Connect with other fellows across the state via a virtual community platform and regional events.
• Receive up to $7,000 toward living expenses (paid out in monthly installments) and a $3,000 educational award at the completion of your 450 hours that can be used to pay off education loans or put toward future educational expenses (e.g., tuition, books).

Students from all colleges and majors are encouraged to apply, including AB540 students and those who are first in their families to go to college.

Eligibility

Priority will be given to students who demonstrate a financial need. As a reflection of our campus's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and the elimination of educational opportunity gaps, we highly encourage AB540 students, students who are the first in their families to attend college, and students who demonstrate financial need to apply.

We are looking for committed students who have:

• passion for working in partnership with communities to make positive change.
• a growth mindset and eagerness to try new things.
• an interest in connecting with and learning from other students and partners across the state.
• a willingness to be an ambassador for the fellowship program on campus and beyond.

Students selected to join the program should meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Qualifies for a Federal Pell Grant.
• Qualifies for a Middle Class Scholarship or State Cal Grant.
• Is an AB-540 Eligible Dreamer student with a California Dream Act application on file (no work authorization required)
• Needs to work part time and/or borrow student loans to meet their educational costs

Additional Requirements

Additionally, eligible students are required to:

• Be a full-time, enrolled undergraduate student at Cal Poly (12 units).
• No minimum GPA, but students must be in good conduct and academic standing.
• Be committed to the program for all three quarters.
• Students graduating in Fall 2023 or Winter 2024 are not eligible for this program.
• Students studying abroad during any quarter are not eligible.
• Attend an online Student Orientation if selected.
• Attend an in-person Welcome Reception on campus.
• Complete potential interviews with nonprofit organizations in Spring 2023, if selected. These interviews will determine your site placements for the academic year (more information about these interviews will be given once students are selected for the program).

AB540 Students

AB540 students are eligible for this program if you:

• Have a completed and submitted a California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for the 2023-2024 academic year.
• AB540 students who are accepted into the program will also be required to submit a CA DSIG Application (PDF) by September 1, 2023 to become eligible for the $3,000 Education Award.

AB540 students interested in applying are encouraged to contact the Dream Center for assistance with their program applications and/or for questions.

We are currently recruiting students for Cohort 2! Are you interested in a College Corps Fellowship for the 2023-2024 academic year? Apply now!

Access the Student Application here

Community organizations selected as placement sites for student fellows will benefit in several ways. They will receive 15 hours per week of direct support provided by student fellows over the course of the academic year (September 2023-June 2024). In addition, they will have access to training and networking opportunities provided by Cal Poly and California Volunteers and be a part of a larger network of community partners across the state of California addressing the state's challenges.

Eligibility

Community host organizations should meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Non-profit organization
• Work in one of the 3 program Focus Areas: (1) Climate Action, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice; (2) Food Insecurity, or (3) K-12 Education
• Ability to provide fellows with effective training, mentoring, and supervision to meet the goal of providing 450 hours of meaningful professional work experience

Responsibilities

Community host organizations will have the following responsibilities:

• Be available in Spring of 2023 to interview student fellows as part of our placement process.
• Attend trainings in Summer of 2023 to ensure smooth onboarding of student fellows.
• Ensure fellows meet the 450-hour requirement while learning practical skills.
• Support Cal Poly in tracking student contributions and outcomes.
• Attend program events like our Kick-Off and Closing Celebrations (dates to be determined).

We are currently recruiting Community Hosts for Cohort 2! Do you want to work with our organization and host our fellows? Apply Now! Application closes September 30th.

Access the CHO Application here