The School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) strongly encourages Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) to apply. Historically, RPCVs have excelled at SPEA, and because of their successful Peace Corps experience we have implemented programs that indicate our appreciation in tangible and educational terms. Here are some of the reasons why The School of Public and Environmental Affairs is so keen to enroll Returned Peace Corps Volunteers:

1. Our experience with RPCVs at SPEA has been outstanding. The maturity and self-discipline developed by working through challenging situations in the field is a direct indicator of academic success in the classroom.

2. The perspective RPCVs bring to SPEA has positive influence on the social and academic perspective of their academic peers. They possess unique life skills and experiences that enhance the overall academic environment.

3. RPCVs have acquired cross-cultural knowledge and international experience that makes them better understand our own domestic problems. For example, it is difficult to be clear about what is "American" about Public Affairs, if you do not put that study into a context of other models, modalities, and systems. It is hard to do that if you have never had any first-hand experience of other cultures and norms.

Program Value:

In the 2005 rankings of graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report, SPEA is ranked #3 out of 240 public affairs programs. Because the other top-ranked schools are private, our fees are extremely competitive, and Bloomington has a low cost of living coupled with a high standard of living. SPEA can offer you real value for your money. In academic specialty areas, four of our concentrations are ranked in the top three:

• Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management (#1)
• Nonprofit Management (#1)
• Public Financial Administration (#2)
• Public Management (#3)

There are no national rankings, as of yet, for environmental science programs, but our reputation in the field continues to grow and the work in our research labs continues to attract national acclaim.

RPCV Benefits:

SPEA will automatically waive six credit hours from the degree requirements for RPCVs who have successfully completed their volunteer service (Description of Service required). This waiver allows RPCVs to graduate with a MPA or MSES degree after completing 42 hours of SPEA credits and is worth approximately $4,700 to out-of-state students.

We offer several Area Studies joint degrees to complement your MPA. Joint degrees are available with African American and African Diaspora Studies; Central Eurasian Studies; East Asian Studies; Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Russian and East European Studies; and West European Studies.

These programs allow you to combine advanced language study (including more than 60 languages such as Uzbek, Estonian, Hausa, Swahili, Russian and indigenous South American and African languages), as well as history, culture and literature. Additionally, several of the Area Studies programs offer FLAS (Foreign Language and Area Studies) fellowships to help finance your education.

NOTE: RPCVs who are joint-degree students will not receive the six credit hour waiver, because they must take at least 36 hours of SPEA coursework to obtain a professional degree.

Currently SPEA has 25 RPCVs enrolled in its various graduate degree programs. The number of applications from RPCVs has increased recently, and we expect this number to continue to rise. This community of former volunteers provides you with a network of students who share common experiences, goals and interests. Your fellow RPCVs at SPEA provide guidance and support, as well as social activities throughout your academic experience. We will be delighted to put you in touch with RPCVs currently enrolled in our graduate programs. Please contact Rebecca below and she can provide contact information for an RPCV currently attending SPEA.

Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program:

Benefits: Peace Corps Fellows automatically receive a 6 credit hour discount from the standard 48-hour program (over $4,400 benefit depending on residency) as well as a waiver of the program's experiential requirement. Fellows will participate in the SPEA Service Corps Program and will receive a $5,000 stipend and 6 credit hours of fee remission per academic year for their part-time (10-hours per week) service in the not-for profit or public sector.

Requirements: Peace Corps Fellows participate in the SPEA Service Corps, which is a unique partnership among the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, United Way Community Services of Monroe County, City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Monroe County Community School Corporation and Franklin Initiative. It offers Fellows experiential learning opportunities and practical work experience through partnerships with community agencies, local government and education systems. This unique program provides Peace Corps Fellows the framework to enhance their academic experience and develop their understanding of the public and nonprofit sectors while working on community-based service learning projects.

Eligibility: Eligibility is dependent upon financial need, acceptance to The School of Public and Environmental Affairs by February 1 st and successful Peace Corps Volunteer service as detailed in your Peace Corps Description of Service. Applicants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA), since determination of financial need will be based upon your financial information.

NOTE: Applicants must check the box on the SPEA application which states that you are a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and interested in the Service Corps.

If you would like to find out more about any of the material outlined above, please contact Tom Sparrenberger:

Email: tsparren@indiana.edu (Please put RPCV and your country of service in the subject line)
Phone: (812) 855-2840 or (800) 765-7755
Fax: (812) 856-3665

Write:
SPEA Graduate Program Office
SPEA 260
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405

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The School of Public and Environmental Affairs warmly welcomes AmeriCorps alums. We have had excellent experiences with AmeriCorps alums in our graduate programs. Here are some of the reasons why the School of Public and Environmental Affairs is attractive to you:

1. Value: In the 2005 rankings of graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report, SPEA is listed as #3 out of 240 for public affairs and is the highest-ranked institution of all public schools. Because all the other top-ranked schools are private, our fees are extremely competitive, and this is a relatively low-cost area in which to live. So we offer you real value for money. In specialty areas, four of our concentrations are in the top 10:
   
   • Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management (#1)
   • Nonprofit Management (#1)
   • Public Financial Administration (#2)
   • Public Management (#3)
   
   There are no national rankings, as of yet, for environmental science programs, but our reputation in the field continues to grow and our most germane work in our research labs continues to attract national acclaim.
   
   
2. We automatically waive three credit hours per year of service (or up to 6 hours) from the degree requirements of all AmeriCorps alums. The 6 credit waiver is worth around $4,700 to out-of-state students.

Why is the School of Public and Environmental Affairs so keen to enroll people from AmeriCorps?

The answer is simple. Our experience with AmeriCorps alums in the School has been outstanding. They bring to bear some qualities that enhance the classroom—and more general academic—environment. These are:

• The sense of self-discipline that comes from coping with challenging positions in the field, and having to make do with limited resources.
• The maturity that such experiences bring.
• The AmeriCorps alums have always had a disproportionate impact on the social and academic life of the school, and do not simply drift through the system.

If you would like to find out more about any of the material outlined above, please contact Tom Sparrenberger:

Email: tsparren@indiana.edu
Phone: (812) 855-2840 or (800) 765-7755
Fax: (812) 856-3665

Write:
SPEA Graduate Program Office
SPEA 260
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405

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The School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) strongly encourages applications from Teach For America alumni. Historically, Teach For America alumni have excelled at SPEA; and because of their successful service experience we have implemented a program that indicates our appreciation in tangible terms. Here are some of the reasons why the School of Public and Environmental Affairs is so keen to enroll Teach For America alumni:

1. Our experience with Teach For America alumni at SPEA has been outstanding. The maturity and self-discipline developed by working through challenging situations in the field is a direct indicator of academic success in the classroom.

2. The perspective Teach For America alumni bring to SPEA has a positive influence on the social and academic perspective of their academic peers. They possess unique life skills and experiences that enhance the overall academic environment.

3. Teach For America alumni have a demonstrated commitment to public service that meshes perfectly with the spirit of SPEA, where students, faculty, and alumni are passionate and engaged in service activities to strengthen the world’s communities.

Program Value:

In the 2005 rankings of graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report, SPEA is ranked #3 out of 240 public affairs programs. Because the other top-ranked schools are private, our fees are extremely competitive, and Bloomington has a low cost of living coupled with a high standard of living. SPEA can offer you real value for your money. In academic specialty areas, four of our concentrations are ranked in the top three:

• Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management (#1)
• Nonprofit Management (#1)
• Public Financial Administration (#2)
• Public Management (#3)

There are no national rankings, as of yet, for environmental science programs, but our reputation in the field continues to grow and the work in our research labs continues to attract national acclaim.

Teach For America Alumni Benefits:

SPEA will automatically waive six credit hours from the degree requirements for Teach For America alumni who have successfully completed their volunteer service. This waiver allows Teach For America alumni to graduate with a MPA or MSES degree after completing 42 hours of SPEA credits and is worth approximately $4,700 to out-of-state students. Teach For America service also satisfies the experiential requirement for an MPA or MSES degree.

NOTE: Teach For America alumni who are joint-degree students will not receive the six credit hour waiver, because they must take at least 36 hours of SPEA coursework to obtain a professional degree.

SPEA offers a strong community of former volunteers that provides you with a network of students who share common experiences, goals and interests. Currently there are 46 students enrolled at SPEA who have served in Teach For America, AmeriCorps, or the Peace Corps. This community provides guidance and support, as well as social activities throughout your academic experience. We will be delighted to put you in touch with Teach For America alumni currently enrolled in our graduate programs. Please contact Rebecca below, and she can provide contact information for a student currently attending SPEA.

If you would like to find out more about any of the material outlined above, please contact Tom Sparrenberger.

E-mail: tsparren@indiana.edu
Phone: (812) 855-2840 or (800) 765-7755
Fax: (812) 856-3665

Write:
SPEA Graduate Program Office
SPEA 260
1315 E. Tenth Street
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405

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