CSUMB’s College Corps awarded $9 million grant, adds two partner colleges

By Caitlin Fillmore

Cal State Monterey Bay’s College Corps will nearly triple in size and add two neighboring community colleges to its program after receiving a $9 million grant. CSUMB was selected as a returning #CaliforniansForAll College Corps partner campus and lead institution in early February.

The College Corps Fellowship, a partnership between the governor’s CA Volunteers initiative and AmeriCorps, awards up to $10,000 to individual high-need students who complete 450 hours of training and community service in one year. 

The goal of the program is to make college more affordable while students develop skills, grow professional networks and serve the community. Millions of dollars invested from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office since the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed College Corps to new heights, with state officials claiming the number of California’s CC fellows will soon eclipse Peace Corps membership.

“College Corps students become civic actors supporting our local communities and learn that service is part of their lives, rather than just something they just do,”  said CSUMB College Corps director Andrew Amorao.

The newly awarded $9 million grant builds on four years of College Corps at CSUMB, which has supported 227 fellows who have given approximately 81,000 hours of service to more than 30 community sites annually, said Chrissy Hernandez, associate professor of the Service Learning Institute, which operates College Corps on campus. 

This increased funding broadens CSUMB’s current College Corps consortium to include Monterey Peninsula College and Hartnell College. As the consortium’s lead institution for the program, CSUMB will increase its current cohort level of 70 students to 100 students each year for the next three years, while MPC and Hartnell will recruit 50 each.

“We are thrilled to expand the reach of CSUMB’s College Corps,” Hernandez said. “This an incredible opportunity to strengthen transfer pipelines and help students graduate debt free.”

College Corps fellowships are awarded to students who need help paying for college, including those who qualify for public or private student loans, need to work part time and/or are undocumented—with or without employment authorization. More than 10,000 students participate in this program statewide from nearly 50 California colleges and universities, including 16 fellow California State Universities.

Hernandez estimates this expansion will result in an additional 56,700 service hours contributed to local organizations each year across four focus areas: K-12 education, food justice, environmental stewardship and healthcare. Previous community organizations have included Community Partnership for Youth and the Gateway Center for adults with disabilities.

Cydney Gaither is the recruitment and retention specialist for College Corps at CSUMB. But before that, she participated in the second College Corps cohort as a fellow and global studies student. 

“College Corps is an extraordinary opportunity for students to be involved in their communities on and off campus,” Gaither said. “As a former student with experience in the program, I know how big an impact this program can have on students. I am absolutely overjoyed that this opportunity will be available to more students everywhere.”

Gaither has seen the difference College Corps has made for her peers, beyond easing some of their financial stress. One fellow was inspired to pursue a career in law after her experience helping members of the United Farm Workers understand their rights and apply for services.

“College Corps allows students to learn and witness the history of social justice issues around our communities and engage in active change,” Gaither said. “Additionally, community members gain help from students who are eager to learn, support their causes and make change, which allows their programs to make a bigger impact.”

For Hernandez, the exponential growth of College Corps reflects CSUMB’s larger legacy.

“The Service Learning Institute has a long history of dedication to service and community stewardship,” she said. “Our competitiveness for this award is rooted in our campus's continued commitment to service learning as a hallmark of a CSUMB undergraduate education and the long-standing legacy of the [Service Learning Institute’s] work in partnership with our local communities.”