The program will create expanded community outreach partnerships between the University of Arizona and communities and organizations with serious needs around issues of housing, homelessness, community and economic revitalization, public health and prevention, and arid lands. Critical needs were identified based on experience and research on the Southern Arizona community. The Graduate College participated in the development, selection of grants, and evaluation of a Kellogg Foundation funded program for Community University Partnership. Outreach work in building community through PRO Neighborhoods, and minority recruitment programs and efforts such as the Ronald McNair funded program for first generation college students have also informed the identification of critical issues.

Role of Fellows in Assisting the Community
Fellows will utilize skills learned in Peace Corps service, such as problem analysis, development of responses, organization, and implementation. These skills will be enhanced with formal education and the opportunity to interact with faculty and other internees. Activities engaged in will be determined in advance of the placement through discussion with the academic unit supplying the fellow and the field site. Examples include, developing a housing plan for South Tucson, conducting field research in the A-Mountain neighborhood on community health issues, or conducting an analysis of public service issues in a small community in Arizona.

Partnerships with Community Agencies
This program builds upon current activities including:

• Internship programs of departments including Planning, Public Administration, Public Health
• University Community Outreach Partnership Grant Program funded by Kellogg Foundation
• Priorities of the UA Graduate College include encouraging the development of programs which meet critical community needs around quality of life, welfare of children, economic development and worker education, critical to Arizona's welfare
• Outreach and participation by the Graduate College in the Southern Arizona Grants Network, PRO Neighborhoods, United Way Welfare to Work efforts, and other services provided to tribal and low income communities in the Tucson area.
• Collaboration with HUD Community Fellows in identifying community needs
• Service learning programs for undergraduates at the UA

The program involves partners and potential target participants in planning and implementation. Participating academic departments will supply fellows. Academic units will provide mentoring and advising to students during their internships. Community partners will define specific outcomes, interview potential candidates for field placement, provide day-to-day supervision, participate financially and administratively, and participate in internal program evaluation.

The planning process will allow all partners to refine the scope of the program, examine links between communities and issues, define common community needs, agree to common goals that cut across all communities, and refine objectives.

Mentoring and Supervision of Fellows
The University of Arizona has a strong commitment to mentoring and provides standards for mentoring of students. Each participating program has slightly different procedures discussed in the attached material. In general, a student develops a strong academic relationship with an advisor. A plan of study is developed for each student. The advisor may guide the internship process and continues to work with the student during the experience. Some programs hold meetings with interns on a regular basis. A concluding report is required of each student. The overall program coordinator will receive a copy of the final report, and will survey students for suggested improvements to the Peace Corps Fellows program administration at the conclusion of the internship experience.

Support Provided for Fellows
Graduate student support is determined by the admitting program. The Graduate College is providing a tuition waiver for each Fellow. Six waivers have been set-aside for the initial year. Additional support may be provided at the discretion of each admitting program. Assistance is available for students seeking extramural funding. Field sites will also be encouraged to contribute some financial support.

For additional information please email:
Georgia Ehlers at gehlers@u.arizona.edu - (520) 621-9103
Dr. Barbara Becker at bbecker@u.arizona.edu - (520)621-9597


To receive information about the Planning Program, please contact:

Planning Degree Program
Harvill, Room 341D
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721-0076
Phone: 1+ 520.621.9597
FAX: 1+ 520.621.9820
Email us: planning@u.arizona.edu