Furman partners with AmeriCorps, extends tuition match to master’s students

Furman University has been named a School of National Service by AmeriCorps, a federal agency tasked with elevating service and volunteerism to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges.

Furman earned the designation by offering a tuition match to enrollees of selected master’s programs at the university. Furman will match the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, the award issued to AmeriCorps members after completing qualified service, up to $7,395, equal to the current benefit of the U.S. Department of Education’s Pell Grant.

The tuition benefit is extended to students who enroll in Furman’s Master of Science in Innovation and Leadership (MSIL) or Master of Arts in Advocacy and Equity Studies (MAAES) programs.

Janna Pennington, a 2004 Furman alumna, communication studies faculty member, and director of the MSIL program, led the effort to receive the AmeriCorps designation.

“I’ve worked with AmeriCorps programs for many years,” Pennington said. “I know how exceptional AmeriCorps members can be, and I’m excited about the opportunity to recruit them to our programs. It’s a diverse group. They’re committed and passionate about changing the world. And that’s exactly who we want at Furman.”

According to AmeriCorps,

• nine out of 10 members said their year of service improved their ability to solve problems,
• 80% of members reported confidence in creating a plan to tackle a community issue and get others to buy in,
• 93% on the membership roster said their service prepared them to interact with others who are different from themselves and
• 94% of its alumni said national service expanded their understanding of society and diverse communities.

“This partnership with AmeriCorps underscores Furman’s commitment to being a university of innovation and impact,” said Beth Pontari, Furman’s vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “Working with a national organization like AmeriCorps enables us to cultivate real-world problem solvers to impact communities in South Carolina and beyond.”

The new designation is mutually beneficial, Pennington said. “We can tap into AmeriCorps’ huge network of civic-minded alumni, and through the tuition benefit, help members secure a graduate degree they might not otherwise be able to afford. It works for everybody.”

In 30 years, AmeriCorps has grown to more than 1.2 million members and volunteers. Annually, more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and volunteers with AmeriCorps Seniors participate in intensive service roles across the country.

Last year, South Carolina saw nearly 2,300 people of all ages and backgrounds involved in service to their communities at over 300 locations including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations.

“I think our master’s programs represent a natural extension to the roles AmeriCorps members have engaged in,” said Shaniece Criss, director of the MAAES and associate professor of health sciences. “Both master’s programs incorporate leadership development and practicum elements where students can continue to build on the trajectory they launched during their AmeriCorps service.”

“AmeriCorps and national service is a tremendous contribution to our local communities,” said Mark Weller, executive director of the South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service. “So, when a prestigious school like Furman University recognizes that service, it means a lot. Furman not only elevates the value of national service for communities but also assists alumni who are looking to invest their education award in their next chapter after their service term.”

For more information, contact Katie Beeson, assistant director of graduate programs, at 864-294-2023.