USF World News
Peace Corps and the University of South Florida Announce New Peace Corps Prep Program
May 31, 2017 -- Peace Corps and the University of South Florida today announced a new partnership centered on an undergraduate certificate program called Peace Corps Prep.
Students in the Peace Corps Prep program, scheduled to launch at the University of South Florida in August, will combine targeted coursework with hands-on experience, building the competencies needed to be strong Peace Corps volunteers or other intercultural fieldworkers.
Peace Corps Prep will be structured as an interdisciplinary program that provides students opportunities to hone their leadership skills, intercultural competencies, foreign language ability, and career readiness. Completion of the program will give students a competitive edge when applying for Peace Corps service or for jobs in the international arena. Peace Corps Prep graduates will be able to engage meaningfully and effectively with diverse people, places, events, challenges, and opportunities.
The Peace Corps has Peace Corps Prep partnerships with more than 75 leading academic institutions nationwide. Established in 2007, the program aims to meet the demand for Peace Corps volunteers with a broad and relevant set of expertise, and to support schools' efforts to provide substantive, globally focused experiences for their students. For more information, go to www.peacecorps.gov/pcprep.
"As a globally engaged university committed to addressing the challenges of the 21st century, the work of the Peace Corps speaks directly to USF's strategic goal for positive societal change," University of South Florida System President Judy Genshaft said. "The Peace Corps Prep program represents a profound opportunity for the University of South Florida to continue our commitment to graduate globally competent students. We are delighted to work in partnership with the Peace Corps and we are proud of our status as a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers."
The University of South Florida is a global research university dedicated to student success. USF Tampa is home to a student body of more than 48,000 students representing over 130 different countries. USF is consistently a "Top College" for Peace Corps volunteers, ranking third in the nation for the number of graduate students serving in the Peace Corps and 18th for the number of graduates with bachelor's degrees. Since 1961, the University of South Florida has had more than 450 Peace Corps volunteers, with 40 volunteers currently serving today.
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About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today's global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 225,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.