Become a VISTA Member with NC Campus Engagement
AmeriCorps VISTAs serve one-year terms and commit to 365 days of full-time service. North Carolina Campus Engagement’s VISTA Program places VISTAs throughout the state of North Carolina at higher educational institutions and nonprofit organizations that are part of our network. Each placement, or host site, is unique, and each VISTA’s year of service is a little different. Although, every VISTAs focus is capacity building.
A VISTA assignment can include various roles and activities, depending on the needs of the organization or community, but their main focus is building capacity. Activities that a VISTA may participate in include:
- Building partnerships with community-based organizations
- Assessing community or organizational needs and assets
- Recruiting and training campus and community volunteers
- Developing systems to manage people, data, and performance
- Creating policies and procedures that increase agency effectiveness
- Supporting citizen and student leadership and participation in service
- Seeking new resources through fund-raising and grant-writing
- Facilitating service-learning placements, community-based research, co-curricular service, and national days of service.
Living Allowance
Living Allowance
VISTAs are allotted a bi-weekly living allowance to cover basic living costs.
Housing Support
Housing Support
Depending on your host site you may receive housing support in the form of a stipend or a fully covered place to live during service. This benefit varies from site to site, and is not guaranteed.
Education Award
Education Award
As a VISTA, you are eligible for an education award worth $6,895 at the completion of a 365-day term. The award can be used for eligible student loans, or for future educational costs.
Student Loan Support
Student Loan Support
AmeriCorps members are eligible for student loan forbearance, and you may be eligible to have AmeriCorps pay any interest that accrues during service.
Cohort Experience
Cohort Experience
As an NC Campus Engagement VISTA, you will be part of a supportive cohort of other VISTAs serving across North Carolina. You will meet together, learn from each other, and create bonds that last a lifetime.
Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE)
Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE)
As an alumni of our program, you are granted special hiring status when you apply for federal jobs after your year of service.
Healthcare
Healthcare
AmeriCorps members with healthcare coverage receive an allowance that covers their copays, and members without healthcare receive coverage during service.
Professional Development
Professional Development
AmeriCorps service provides countless opportunities for professional and personal growth in every aspect. VISTAs have access to training, webinars, conferences, and networking opportunities, among other things.
Other Assistance
Other Assistance
Relocation assistance, childcare assistance, and traveling reimbursement, if eligible.
Becoming a VISTA FAQs
Why should I join the NC Afterschool Corps?
Because you care about educational inequity and creating opportunities for kids. Because you like volunteering and working with college students. Because you had fun being part of an afterschool or summer learning program. Because you are interested in “design-thinking” or adolescent development. Because you are looking for an intensive, year-long service experience that will let you develop professional skills. Because high-quality afterschool programs make a big difference for youth and families, and you want to make a difference!
Your primary work will involve organizational and program development, especially improving volunteer recruitment, resource development (fundraising and grant-writing), curriculum enhancement, and event management. VISTA members do not provide “direct service,” so you will not have a role working directly with children as an afterschool caregiver or teacher.
Why should I join the NC Hunger Corps?
Because you are passionate about helping students and local community members become food secure. Because you have experienced hunger personally or have seen others experience food insecurity. Because you have volunteered with or worked with agencies who address hunger. Because you realize that our state and nation have the knowledge and resources to ensure that everyone has enough food to eat, we just need the will and the capacity-building support to do so.
Your primary work will involve organizational and program development, especially improving volunteer recruitment, resource development (fundraising and grant-writing), and event management. VISTA members do not provide “direct service,” so you will not have a role working directly with clients.
What skills and qualifications do I need?
Applicants should have a passion for the VISTA mission of fighting poverty and for the goals of the NC Afterschool Corps. Ideal candidates will have experience in afterschool settings or with youth development programs, past leadership in college campus service programs, and interests in volunteer recruitment, fundraising, and design-thinking. Qualified applicants should have strong oral and written communication, networking, and organizational skills. Other qualifications include:
- At least 18 years old, no upper age limit
- Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US National, Lawful Permanent Resident Aliens and persons residing in a state that have the following legal residency classifications: refugee, asylum or asylee, temporary protected status, or deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status.
- Ability to serve FULL-TIME for ONE-YEAR term of service (i.e. July 17, 2023 – July 16, 2024 or other applicable start/end dates of service).
- Pass a national service criminal history check (upon selection).
- Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree.
- Ability to attend NC Campus Engagement AmeriCorps VISTA orientation, which takes place the week before service starts.
- Able to start at your service site and participate in an AmeriCorps VISTA Virtual Orientation, which always falls on your first day of serivice.
How are NC Campus Engagement VISTA members selected?
Selection is a competitive process. Once you have submitted your application through the AmeriCorps portal, it is forwarded to NC Campus Engagement. NC Campus Engagement contacts qualified candidates to request a résumé and supplemental info, then we conduct screening interviews with selected applicants. Strong candidates are invited to a second round of interviews with host site supervisors whose projects may match the candidate’s skills and interests. A candidate’s application may be reviewed by multiple host sites. If selected, candidates receive an offer to serve at a particular host site, and you will have a choice to accept the offer. If you accept, we’ll begin the on-boarding and orientation process.
When does the term of service begin/end?
VISTA service terms are 365 days. VISTA start dates for the 2023-2024 service year will be June 5th, June 20th, July 17th, July 31st, August 14th, or August 28th. All service terms end the following year, one year later (same date minus 1, i.e. start date June 5th,2023 then the end date is June 4th, 2024).
NC Afterschool & Hunger Corps members serve full-time, approximately 40 hours/week. You will typically work the same hours as other staff at your host site, though you may work occasional weekends or evenings depending on the project. AmeriCorps VISTA does provide for 10 days of personal leave and 10 days of sick leave during the service year, and you will typically receive the same holidays as other organization staff.
Where will I serve?
Host site organizations may be either a college or university or a community-based non-profit agency. In most cases, a Corps member will be the only member at their agency. During the interview process you may express your preference for a particular host site, but we cannot guarantee placement at a requested site. You will have the option to accept or decline an offer to serve at a site. 2023-2024 host site locations will be listed under the “Host a VISTA” section linked above: host sites are updated every year in March.
Do host sites offer housing?
Host sites are asked to offer some form of housing assistance, either by arranging low-cost or no-cost housing for the Corps member, or providing a monthly housing supplement directly to a landlord or rental agency. Some host sites may not offer housing support. Please discuss this with the host site representative during the interview process.