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Interested in service or service-learning?  If so, you should come work as
an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer with the Vermont Campus Compact.
So hike, bike, climb, paddle, or dance your way through the breathtaking
beauty of the Green Mountain State...but remember to leave room for the
ice cream!  Take Care and Be Well

Cecil Thomas
AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader
Vermont Campus Compact
152 Maple St. Suite G1
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802) 443-5652 phone
(802) 443-2047 fax
cthomas@middlebury.edu


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Vermont Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA Project

Vermont Campus Compact is a non-profit organization that works with colleges
to promote the integration of service and service-learning into the
academic, student life, and civic goals of their institutions.  For the
third year, full-time Vermont Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA members will
serve on ten or more campuses throughout the state of Vermont.  Each member
will serve one year at a participating college, working with students,
faculty, administration, and local communities to build volunteer and
service-learning programs on the campus, mobilizing the resources of higher
education to serve the needs of the community. In addition to extensive
professional development training, members receive a living stipend, health
benefits, and can elect to receive an educational award to pay off existing
student loans or finance future education.

General Responsibilities Include:
*       Building community partnerships
*       Recruiting student volunteers
*       Training student leaders
*       Working with faculty to develop service-learning programs

Current Positions 

Bennington  College
The AmeriCorps*VISTA member at Bennington College will focus on
strengthening the link between the college and the community, particularly
around art and performance.  The VISTA will work to help promote the art of
the students and faculty throughout the community by forming networks and
contacts within the community.  The VISTA will work on building the school's
service-learning infrastructure by helping faculty identify service-learning
opportunities to integrate into the curriculum.  The VISTA will also help
coordinate an interactive and sustainable mentoring program at Bennington
College.  Other responsibilities will include creating an America
Reads/America Counts program, increasing civic engagement on campus, and
creating student leadership by increasing awareness of social issues on
campus and in the community. 

Community College of Vermont Bennington & Southern Vermont College 
The Community College of Vermont in Bennington and Southern Vermont College
AmeriCorps*VISTA project is designed to build capacity in developing
service-learning and community partnerships.  The project serves to promote
the integration of community and service-learning into the academic, student
life, and civic goals of these institutions.  The Bennington VISTA will
serve at both SVC and CCV.  He or she will help educate the college
communities, continue the development of programs, foster student
leadership, assess community needs, and develop and expand service-learning
opportunities.  The VISTA will also coordinate the America Reads programs
for both campuses, and help implement CCV's annual Harvest for Hunger
events.

Community College of Vermont Montpelier
At the Community College of Vermont in Montpelier, the VISTA will work to
address issues of poverty and hunger in the Montpelier community.  The
project will help serve low income Vermonters by working with Vermonters for
a Livable Wage.  The VISTA will also be instrumental in coordinating CCV's
annual Harvest for Hunger events.  Working with CCV's Reach-Up Coordinator,
the VISTA will help implement a revolving loan fund to support students with
emergency needs around childcare, transportation, or housing.  Other
responsibilities of the VISTA will be to create sustainable change by
working with CCV students to raise awareness about poverty, foster civic
responsibility, and identify opportunities for students to engage in
service-learning activities.  



Green Mountain College --Campus Outreach Coodinator
This VISTA will work to recruit, train, and manage student volunteers to
support economic, environmental, and educational development in the town of
Poultney.  The VISTA will help develop infrastructure to institutionalize
GMC's commitment to volunteerism and service-learning.  The GMC VISTA will
also conduct and analyze a needs assessment survey for the Poultney
Revitalization Project.  Other responsibilities will include helping to
create both the Green Mountain College Center for Sustainable Development
Initiative and the Poultney Educational Trail.

Green Mountain College --Campus Greening Coordinator
This VISTA will work with the Director of Environmental Initiatives on
several greening projects at GMC, including Community Supported Agriculture
(CSA), the indoor Living Machine, the Poultney Educational Trail, and
wetland restoration.  The VISTA will work to integrate sustainable
stewardship of natural resources through GMC's academic programs and as an
institution in mutual benefit to the community and the college.     

Johnson State College 
The VCC VISTA at Johnson State College will work with students to develop
leadership in service areas such as mentoring, Alternative Spring Breaks,
and local service programs.  Johnson State College's VISTA will also
increase faculty outreach, coordinating training workshops and providing
information and technical support for the infusion of service-learning into
academics.  Working in partnership with the Volunteer Center of Lamoille
Valley, the VISTA will work to mobilize the resources of Johnson State
College to help serve the needs of the Lamoille Valley Community.

Middlebury College
As Coordinator of Volunteer Services at Middlebury College, the VISTA will
advise the student volunteer organization, coordinating student leadership
development trainings, facilitating a roundtable of student service leaders,
and coordinating an Alternative Spring Break program. The VISTA will work
with campus staff and administration to expand and coordinate service
efforts.  Other responsibilities will include working with community
agencies to ensure that Middlebury students are effectively helping to
address local needs, increasing the visibility of service-learning on
campus, and providing faculty with resources and technical assistance to
implement new programs or expand existing ones.           (POSITION FILLED)

Springfield College of Human Services
The VISTA at Springfield College of Human Services will work to build
infrastructure around community development projects, develop new
partnerships within the St. Johnsbury community and strengthen those that
already exist, and develop student leadership.  Specific project areas
include community wide events around women's leadership, career development,
and increasing civic engagement on campus and in communities. 
(POSITION FILLED) 

Sterling College
The AmeriCorps*VISTA project at Sterling College will change the patterns of
rural poverty in the Northeast Kingdom through improved environmental
stewardship.  The VISTA will work to document factors contributing to the
persistently low family incomes in this region.  The VISTA will work with
community members to develop practical problem solving skills.  By
supporting the incorporation of service-learning projects into the academic
coursework at Sterling College, the VISTA project will enhance the quality
of education offered to students while the community can benefit from the
attention addressed to the local region.   Other responsibilities of the
VISTA will be to engage students in local housing/insulation initiatives, as
well as to raise awareness about energy consumption and to encourage "green"
strategies to help promote long-term environmental gains for the region.
(POSITION FILLED)



University of Vermont--Residence Life/Student Life
This AmeriCorps*VISTA will work within the Residence Hall system and Student
Life department to increase student commitment to community service and
civic engagement.  The VISTA will coordinate student volunteers in
addressing a wide variety of social problems in the Burlington area such as
homelessness, HIV/AIDS prevention, working with senior citizens and at-risk
youth, and environmental stewardship.  Other responsibilities will include
working to increase the number of on-campus students involved in
volunteerism, making connections with community service agencies,
coordinating Alternative Weekends, serving as a volunteer resource for
Residence Life staff, and assisting in planning service projects in the
Burlington area.

University of Vermont--Elementary Education
This VISTA will work with UVM students and faculty to integrate
service-learning in elementary education to provide literacy support to
young children and families in the Burlington/Winooski area. The VISTA will
also work to develop infrastructure to support the recruitment, training,
placement, and supervision of UVM America Reads volunteers and Work-Study
participants in local elementary schools.

Vermont Technical College
The AmeriCorps*VISTA at VTC will build infrastructure for faculty and
student leadership in serving the Randolph community.  The VISTA will work
to build partnerships with local non-profit agencies to identify needs and
assets in the town of Randolph.  He or she will also work with the Student
Affairs Division to recruit and train volunteers to mentor K-12 students,
modeling the attainability of post-secondary education and professional
success.  The VISTA will work with designated faculty to develop
service-learning in the VTC curriculum
  
Woodbury College
The AmeriCorps*VISTA at Woodbury College will work within the Prevention and
Community Development Program to strengthen partnerships with community
agencies and increase the active engagement of students in their
communities.  The VISTA will expand and develop the college's current
service-learning and internship opportunities.  The VISTA will also assess
the needs of Woodbury's non-traditional (primarily adult) student body,
faculty and community partners to create training events and other support
systems for sustainable partnerships between the college and its community.


Vermont Campus Compact A*VISTA Leader
The Vermont Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA Team Leader will work at the
Vermont Campus Compact Office in Middlebury, Vermont. The team leader
maintains strong communication and networking ties amongst the VCC A*VISTA
members, who are placed at colleges and universities throughout the state.
The VISTA leader also provides timely information and resources, and
coordinates training and facilitation opportunities for the VCC VISTA team.
The VISTA Leader is additionally involved in developing a statewide student
service leadership network, as well as publications, public relations, event
planning, grant writing, and program development at the VCC Office.
(POSITION FILLED) 

Additional Information:
AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), is a National Service
Program administered by the Corporation for National Service. A*VISTA
Members receive a monthly stipend of $750-$790, health insurance coverage, a
$4,725 educational award OR a $1200 cash award upon completion of service,
and possible on-campus housing (A*VISTA service does not affect public
assistance benefits).  In addition, student loans are placed on federal
forbearance and for qualified loans, interest will be paid by the
Corporation after successful completion of their service.  Full- or
part-time employment is prohibited during AmeriCorps*VISTA service.  Full-
or part-time enrollment in an educational institution is prohibited except
in certain circumstances.  An applicant must be at least 18 years of age, be
a U.S. citizen, or have permanent resident status.

For more information about Vermont Campus Compact or member sites, contact
Cecil Thomas at (802) 443-5652 or cthomas@middlebury.edu.  Visit the VCC
website at www.middlebury.edu/~vcc.