Policy Studies Associates (PSA)
°ÄÃÅÕæÕý×î×¼µÄÃâ·Ñ×ÊÁÏ AmeriCorps Alumni Study: report series
In spring 2018, °ÄÃÅÕæÕý×î×¼µÄÃâ·Ñ×ÊÁÏ contracted with Policy Studies Associates (PSA) to conduct the °ÄÃÅÕæÕý×î×¼µÄÃâ·Ñ×ÊÁÏ AmeriCorps Alumni Study, intended to deepen the organization’s understanding of the quality of the °ÄÃÅÕæÕý×î×¼µÄÃâ·Ñ×ÊÁÏ AmeriCorps service experience and its effects on the civic engagement and educational and career pathways of their AmeriCorps and VISTA alumni.
Findings from that study, which concluded in December 2019, indicate that serving as an AmeriCorps member with °ÄÃÅÕæÕý×î×¼µÄÃâ·Ñ×ÊÁÏ fosters professional skills; informs educational and career pathways; and influences beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors related to civic engagement. For example, a majority of °ÄÃÅÕæÕý×î×¼µÄÃâ·Ñ×ÊÁÏ’ AmeriCorps alumni reported that their service experience caused them to re-examine their beliefs; at least 80 percent felt that serving exposed them to new ideas and ways of seeing the world; and 85 percent reported that their service experience prepared them for their current position. Moreover, °ÄÃÅÕæÕý×î×¼µÄÃâ·Ñ×ÊÁÏ AmeriCorps alumni were more likely than alumni in a similar study conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which administers the AmeriCorps program, to report that their service experience enhanced their professional skills in areas like adapting to new situations, working with people different from themselves, and working independently.
Three part report series:
Report 1 –Â Alumni reflections on their service year(s)
Report 2 – Influencing the academic and career pathways of °ÄÃÅÕæÕý×î×¼µÄÃâ·Ñ×ÊÁÏ AmeriCorps Alumni
Report 3 – Influencing the civic engagement of °ÄÃÅÕæÕý×î×¼µÄÃâ·Ñ×ÊÁÏ AmeriCorps alumni
Appendix (for reference)