The Michigan Service Scholars Program [MSS] will provide $300,000 in scholarships state-wide to students attending Michigan Campus Compact [MCC] member campuses through a grant from The Michigan Community Service Commission and The Corporation for National and Community Service. Students willing to complete 300 hours of community service during one calendar year will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship, otherwise known as an educational award, to be used for any educational purpose. Community service hours can be completed during the academic year and/or over class breaks. To complete 300 hours during a regular academic year, students would need to average 9.5-10 hours of community service per week.

MSS students need to complete their service by helping community agencies achieve their mission by volunteering. You can do that by working with the issues of healthcare, the environment, youth or other social issues tackled by 501(c) (3) nonprofits, K-12 schools or colleges/universities. Hours are also allowable for members recruiting other volunteers to work with these organizations as well. MSS students may already be working in communities through internships, volunteer positions, and the Federal Work Study (FWS) program. Community Service FWS students need to be in a community agency with registered 501(c) (3) status outside the campus infrastructure or in educational institutions such as K-12 schools, city recreation programs or childcare/preschool centers. If an agency can show a community purpose, community support and community need without these requirements, placements will be considered. These students may be paid in their position and also receive the scholarship--this only applies to those in the Federal Work Study program. Appropriate on-campus placements might include students working in the community service office on campus, or a student conducting community-based research for a nonprofit or government agency. Also, campuses should look at recruiting students already providing a high level of community service for the scholarship program and/or creating a MSS peer group on campus to recruit students willing to serve 300 hours a year.

Students will be recruited on a first come first serve basis during the fall of 2008. There is no limit to how many scholars a campus may enroll. Each campus is encouraged and required to have a single advisor for the program who will certify timesheets, coordinate partnerships, and answer questions from students.

www.micampuscompact.org/mss.asp

 The campus advisor at UM Dearborn in Amber Toth, Michigan Campus Compact Americorps*VISTA. Amber is the Civic Engagement Project coordinator, and can be contacted at altoth(at)umd.umich.edu, or (313) 583-6550. The Civic Engagement Project office is located at 2030 Mardigian Library.