SCA and AmeriCorps Education Awards, Spring 2011

What is the status of SCA’s AmeriCorps Education Awards?

SCA has allocated all the AmeriCorps-provided Education Awards available in our current grant. On a temporary basis, additional awards are unavailable.

How did this happen?

SCA increased its number of placements at the same time AmeriCorps reduced the amount of education awards it made available to us.  As a result, SCA allocated all our awards earlier than we typically do.

Why did AmeriCorps provide SCA with fewer awards?

With limited funding and growing interest in AmeriCorps education awards from national service organizations, AmeriCorps was forced to cut its “awards pie” into smaller slices to satisfy demand.

When will SCA receive additional education awards?

We anticipate that AmeriCorps will provide SCA with additional education awards beginning with our new grant year in June 2011, and that we will be able to offer awards to members with start dates of June 18 or later.

I have a member who was offered an AmeriCorps Education Award in their selection paperwork, but they haven’t started yet. Will this individual lose their award?

No.  If a member was selected while awards were still available, and offered an education award in their enrollment paperwork, they have an award reserved for them and they will not lose that award.

I have a position with two openings. One member has already been selected and offered an education award, but I haven’t selected a member for the second opening yet. What will happen to the education award for that second member?

Unfortunately, because SCA has allocated all of the awards in our current grant, we will be unable to offer an award to any members who have not yet been selected and have start dates of June 17 or earlier.  .

My position begins in early June. If I change the start date to June 18 or later, will my member receive an education award?

We anticipate that AmeriCorps will provide SCA with additional education awards beginning in our new grant year on June 18. If it is possible for you to change your position start date to June 18 or later, we except to be able to offer an education award as part of the member benefit package.

Can SCA guarantee awards for members who are starting June 18 or later?

SCA expects to receive a new AmeriCorps Education Award grant at the end of May, which will go into effect on June 18. Once that grant has formally been awarded, we will be able to assure members and partners of awards for positions starting on or after that date.

Could this happen again?

The AmeriCorps Education Award Program is a grant program that is always contingent upon federal funding.  SCA receives a set number of education awards each year, and sometimes our member numbers exceed the amount of awards made available to us.

Who can I contact for more information?

You are welcome to call your SCA representative, and we will be happy to answer questions and work with you to arrange the best internship for your members.