Peace Corps Fellows/USA Program Partners with the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs

The Peace Corps welcomes the University of Washington to its Fellows/USA program. The program will be housed in the Evans School of Public Affairs and will offer Peace Corps Fellows the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in Public Administration. Several different courses of study are available, including: education and social policy, environmental policy, health policy, international development, law and policy, and nonprofit and nongovernmental organization (NGO) management.

“I am happy to welcome the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs to the Peace Corps Fellows/USA family,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. “This partnership offers our volunteers new opportunities to apply their Peace Corps experience toward a graduate degree when they return home.”

Returned Peace Corps volunteers selected for the Evans School program will receive 12 credits – valued at $4,223 for Washington state residents and $8,439 for non-residents for the 2009–2010 academic year – in return for their two years of Peace Corps service.

“We are proud to extend our longstanding partnership with the Peace Corps,” said Sandra O. Archibald, dean of the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. “We are excited to help fulfill Peace Corps’ goals to promote a better understanding among peoples of different nations and welcome Peace Corps Fellows to our MPA degree program.”

The Peace Corps will host a reception at the University of Washington tonight to celebrate local Peace Corps nominees who will soon depart for Peace Corps service. The event will be held in HUB Room 310 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.

Peace Corps’ Fellows/USA program started in 1985 at Teachers College, Columbia University and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The Fellows/USA program offers returned Peace Corps volunteers financial benefits such as scholarships, reduced tuition and university credit in advanced degree programs at over 50 participating colleges and universities. In addition to their academic studies, Fellows/USA participants apply the experience they acquired as volunteers abroad to programs that benefit underserved U.S. communities. More details can be found at www.peacecorps.gov/fellows.

The University of Washington produced 101 Peace Corps volunteers in 2009, more than any other U.S. college or university. The Evans School of Public Affairs has also participated in a second Peace Corps graduate school initiative, Master’s International, since 2000.

As Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, its service legacy continues to promote peace and friendship around the world with 7,671 volunteers serving in 77 host countries. Historically, nearly 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment. To learn more about the Peace Corps, please visit our website: www.peacecorps.gov.