Program Information + Announcements

Oct. 20, 2023

Update 1: Supplemental Tabling Hours 

There are still available slots for tabling. Here is the link to sign up! Along with signing up to table and getting direct service hours, we will be training you on how to table as well, and giving you hours for that. If you signed up for tabling already keep a look out for my email so we can discuss a good time to train you.  

Update 2: Check ins with Meagan  

I know in class I mentioned we will start checking in biweekly, but I am thinking about a monthly check in instead. I would like to see how the first round of check ins go before adjusting the duration of the meeting and its recurrence. For those whom want to meet with my biweekly, reach out and we can definitely make that happen.  

This is not mandatory however you will be able to log this meeting under SF state training.  

Book time with Meagan Vandhana Prasad: Check in with me  

Update 3: AU 500 Course 

I sent back timesheets to those who have not submitted assignments for the asynchronous days. Claude is allowing late work. If you would like those 2 hours for 10/13 then please submit the assignment and resubmit your timesheet.  

The AU 500 course counts towards your allocated 90 training hours. If any class time is missed you will have to make up those hours at your host site.  

Oct. 06, 2023

I hope you had a great weekend. Here are some updates for you. Please take some time to read it when you have the chance.  

Action 1: Contact with Host Site Supervisor 

If you are having difficulty reaching your host site, please reach out to me so we can discuss how we can help you reach your weekly hour goal.  

Action 2: Extra direct service hour opportunity  

This opportunity is a first come first serve basis and you can sign up for hourly shifts on the specific days you are interested. 

We have direct service opportunities on these Tuesdays:  

10/17 

10/31 

11/07 

11/14 

This opportunity is helping ICCE with program outreach. We will be participating in tabling events on campus to promote ICCE.  

Please sign up via this google form https://forms.gle/tVKoEQB1taJXhRLg6  if interested. I will provide more information to the fellows whom sign up for slots.  

Reminder: extra hours are meant to be done alongside your normal 12-15 hour shifts per week. This extra opportunity is not meant to replace the hours you do at your host site.  

Friendly reminders: 

As of right now you should have had contact with your host site and have started direct service at your host site. If you are having difficulty communicating with your host site, please reach out to me via email. It is important you stay in direct communication with your host site.   

On March 2nd 10am – 2pm we will be hosting the Mid-Year Leadership Conference. This is a mandatory event and you will be getting training hours for this event.  Please save the date as this is a mandatory event.    

Time Sheets    

Friendly reminder: your time sheet is due on Oct.8th. Please remember to submit your time sheets on time. This will allow time for your host site supervisors enough time to approve them.  Per your service agreement you have 3 days after they are due to submit them. 

Please remember when logging AU 500 hours they must be 2 hours under SF state training.  

This is a friendly reminder that starting October 1st, you must be hitting your targeted 12-15 hours per week. It is important you hit these goals otherwise you will begin to fall behind in reaching your 450 hours.   

Office hours   

I will be hosting office hours every two weeks on the days your AU 500 course is Asynchronous. Office hours is not mandatory, but it should give you an opportunity to ask questions if you may have.   

https://sfsu.zoom.us/j/84453535438?pwd=U0ZWbEhpZkFSL3JnYkR2Wk1LYzE3UT09   

Sept. 30, 2023

Update 1: AU 500   

It was great seeing everyone on Friday September 22nd. This is a friendly reminder that ALL in person courses are mandatory. Class starts at 10 am sharp and I will be taking attendance the first 15 minutes of class. If you are more than 15 minutes late you will not be able to log hours the 2 training hours for that day. Also, if you are not logging the 2 training hours for AU 500 you will need to make up those hours at your host site. It is important to show up for your fellow classmates.   

Action Item 1: Textbook Loan    

If you have not picked up your textbook, please reach out to Meagan as you will not be able to do our discussion for AU500 without it. You will not be able to log 2 hours for asynchronous class if you are not completing the discussions.  

DocuSign to Textbook Loan    

Update 2: Expectations  

As of right now you should have had contact with your host site and have started direct service at your host site. If you are having difficulty communicating with your host site, please reach out to me via email. It is important you stay in direct communication with your host site.   

On March 2nd 10am – 2pm we will be hosting the Mid-Year Leadership Conference. This is a mandatory event and you will be getting training hours for this event.    

Please remember that working at your host site and being a part of the college corps program is a job like another. It is important to have good communication with your host site. That means communicating in advance when you are unable to make it into work. Please do not cancel your shifts the day you are supposed to go into your site. We understand that if it is an emergency or if you get sick however last-minute cancelations show you are not committed and uninterested in working at their site/partaking in the college corps program.   

Update 3: Time Sheets    

Please remember to submit your time sheets on time. Per your service agreement you have 3 days after they are due to submit them. 

Please remember when logging AU 500 hours they must be 2 hours under SF state training. This is a friendly reminder that starting October 1st, you must be hitting your targeted 12-15 hours per week. It is important you hit these goals otherwise you will begin to fall behind in reaching your 450 hours.   

Update 4: Office hours   

I will be hosting office hours every two weeks on the days your AU 500 course is Asynchronous. Office hours is not mandatory, but it should give you an opportunity to ask questions if you may have.   

https://sfsu.zoom.us/j/84453535438?pwd=U0ZWbEhpZkFSL3JnYkR2Wk1LYzE3UT09   

Sept. 14, 2023

Hi folks I hope you had a great weekend. Here is the weekly digest please take some time to read them.  

Action Item 1: Textbook Loan  

If you have a textbook for the AU 500 course, it is required that you fill out the Textbook DocuSign. As the textbook is a rental, we will be needing the book back at the end of May.  

Please take some time to fill out the DocuSign if you have not done so already.  

DocuSign to Textbook Loan  

If you have not picked up your textbook, please reach out to Meagan as you will not be able to do our discussion for AU500 without it.   

Action Item 2: Time Sheets  

Please remember to submit your time sheets. Remember that 8 hours will be going towards your SFSU College Corps training and kick-off orientation plus an hour for the America Learns Certification. If you did not attend the Kick-off Orientation and are confused about how many hours to put in, please reach out to Meagan. Please do not forget to add any onboarding or direct service you have received from your host site as well.  

Update 1: Website Revamp 

Please look at the College Corps website. The website has been revamped and contains everything you need to know regarding  

·       Onboarding tasks  

·       How to contact Meagan and Rachelle  

·       Living Allowance + Education Award  

·       America Learns tutorials.  

·       Calander updates  

·       AU 500 course  

·       Weekly Digests  

·       Hour Tracker Template.  

Before reaching out with questions please look at the website and your Service Agreement as it may answer your questions.  

Update 2: Office Hours + Hour Tracking Template  

I will be hosting office hours every two weeks during the AU 500 course (10 a.m. – 11 a.m.) when class is asynchronous. This will give you an opportunity to talk with me and discuss anything you may be having difficulties with. This week I will be going over the website revamp and discussing the hour-tracking template posted on our website.  

The hour tracking template has been uploaded on our website where you can play around with the hour distribution. As you know we recommend logging a minimum of 12-15 hours per week. We recommend this because we don’t expect fellows to work during their breaks. So, you can use this template and start playing around with this to get an idea of what your week-to-week looks like.  

https://sfsu.zoom.us/j/84453535438?pwd=U0ZWbEhpZkFSL3JnYkR2Wk1LYzE3UT09

Update 3: Live Scan // Background Check 

Thank you to everyone who has completed their required Background Check through UPD however some sites are requiring fellows to complete a live scan for their specific site. I know it’s a hassle but please follow your host sites onboarding processes. Please note that if you have not completed your host site’s onboarding process it will keep you from doing direct service hours.  

Update 4: College Corps T-Shirts  

Please do not get rid of your white College corps T-shirt. These T-shirts can be worn to your host site and future College Corps events. Please hang onto them until the next year.  

Take Care,

Meagan 

August 28, 2023

Hi everyone, 

I wanted to start off by saying how happy I was that everyone attended the Kick-off Orientation. It was great meeting everyone and meeting you in person. Here are some action items and updates for you all. Some of the questions asked during the orientation will be addressed in this email.

Action Item 1: SF State Onboarding Enrollment Checklist

Most of you have completed your SFSU onboarding/enrollment tasks however if you have not completed them you will need to do so as soon as possible. If tasks are not completed you will not be able to start at your host site which means you will need to make up the hours you missed during the time of waiting for your onboarding tasks to finish. This includes your live scan/background check. If your live scan has not been approved yet by UPD you cannot start at your host site regardless of whether they require one or not. The College Corps program requires all students to have their background check fully completed before starting at their host site. If you have any immediate concerns, please contact me.

Action Item 2: America Learns certification – updated information

Here is how to access the Impact Suite Certification Course:

1. Click this link: https://impact.getlearnworlds.com/
2. Click on the blue Sign In (Courses) button in the upper right corner
3. Log in with these credentials:

Username: Your email associated with your America Learns account (usually your school email)

Password: Impact#1

Please note that if you click on Impact Suite Log In, you will be redirected to our America Learns website. You will need to go back to https://impact.getlearnworlds.com/ and log in using the credentials above to access the course. Please get this done at your earliest convenience as this is part of your onboarding process. This certification will help you understand how to use America Learns, which you will have to use to track and load your hours.

Action Item 3: Financial Aid (FA)

Financial Aid has reviewed all Fellows’ financial aid packages and you should see an adjustment to your FA accounts shortly. As a reminder, the College Corps compensation is considered part of your FA package for those who are receiving financial aid. If you have any questions about your FA package or all things related to financial aid, please contact Rachelle Ruiz-Campos, State Grants Coordinator with the FA office at rachellecampos@sfsu.edu 

Action Item 4: Logging Hours in America Learns

Hours counted as training under “SF State” in America Learns

All fellows should log hours for the following:

• Aug. 25^th: 8 hours (this includes 5 hours. =Kick-off Celebration and 3 completing onboarding enrollment steps). When entering these hours select “San Francisco State” as your Community Host Partner that you served with for this day and indicate them as “training” hours.
• If you have completed the America Learns certification you can log an additional hour for that, but if you have yet to complete it, please do not log in until it has been completed.

Reminder: All SF State/California Volunteers (CV) trainings/workshops and A U 500 course you will be entering as “training hours” and selecting “San Francisco State as your community host partner for these instances.

Hours counted under your assigned community host partner in America Learns

• All related training and direct service hours at your assigned community host site will be entered under them.
• Please have continual contact with your host site supervisor to complete any site-specific onboarding steps, as well as start dates and schedules.

Note: America Learns states that you need approximately 9.20 hours service hours which is true IF you want to work during your winter and spring break, as well as the AL is accounting until July 31, 2024. but our program's last day to enter hours is May 17, 2024. We recommend working 10-12 hours per week at your host site to minimize your chance of working during your winter and spring break. Here is what it looks like on America learns. Note: 9.20 hours is not accurate. 

Action Item 5: Office hours (Optional)

I will be hosting office hours this Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, from 11:50-12:15 p.m. on Zoom to go over the fellow service agreement sections. Here is the Zoom link: https://sfsu.zoom.us/j/82060128295?pwd=S2ROanp2TEtVTkZWUnlLWDlrK1NCZz09

Action Item 6: Location of A U 500 in-person class sessions & ICCE

We have gotten a couple of questions about where the AU 500 course is held and where the ICCE office where Jen and I are located. Please refer to this map.  The HSS building is at the corner of 19^th Ave (directly across the MUNI platform on 19^th Ave.) and next to the Business building and across from the Administration building.

Location: A U 500 will take place in HSS 256 (2^nd floor)

Location:  The ICCE office is in HSS 206 (2^nd floor).

August 18, 2023

ACTION ITEM 1: Setup My AmeriCorps Account 

Be on the lookout for an email invitation from My AmeriCorps. After you submit your Live Scan to the College Corps team, you will then be prompted to register in America Corps. 

College Corps is a statewide funded program through AmeriCorps and California Volunteers. As such, they are asking all fellows to register an AmeriCorps account to track and monitor fellows' progress. 

Please fill this out no later than Monday, August 21, 2023 

This is only available to you if you send Meagan your Background Live Scan document filled out and signed by SFSU UPD before 2 pm today. If you have not done your background Live Scan, this feature will be unavailable to you.  

ACTION ITEM 2:  Service Agreement 

Most of you fellows have been officially placed at host sites. Congratulations!! Next week you will be receiving your College Corps Service Agreement. Please take the time to carefully review the entire document as it will stipulate your roles and responsibilities for the 2023-2024 AY. It will also outline the 450 hours needed to complete the program which is 90 via training, and the other 360 via direct service.  

Please fill this out no later than Thursday, August 24th, 2023. If it is not filled out by Thursday you will not be able to claim 6 hours for the orientation.  

ACTION ITEM 3:  RSVP For next Friday’s College Corps Orientation 

Please fill out our google survey, confirming you will attend next Friday’s College Corps Orientation Kick-off from 10-3pm at Seven Hills Conference Center. Seven Hills Conference Center is located right next to City Eats and across from Mary Ward. This event is mandatory for all fellows to attend. If you cannot attend, please email Meagan Prasad at mprasad1@sfsu.edu and schedule a meeting with her.  

https://forms.gle/nW6b7gedwGXtDpcM9 

Please fill this out no later than Sunday, August 20, 2023 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Meagan! 

Have a great first week of school! We are looking forward to meeting you all in person next Friday! 

August 11, 2023

ACTION ITEM 1: Deadline to Drop out of College Corps 

Today is the last day to drop out of the program. Please contact the College Corps staff Meagan and Joshua if you wish to drop out or have any questions or concerns about being able to stay in this program. 

We received a lot of great applications and we take great care to consider each applicant as well as the overall cohort. We were faced with tough decisions each year in our selection process! We have created a waitlist for students and to give them enough time to onboard as well.  

ACTION ITEM 2:  DocuSign Documents  

A couple onboarding tasks require signing DocuSign documents. Joshua and I want to remind you that it is important to fill out these documents with your sfsu.edu email account. Your documents will not go through if you use a personal email.  

ACTION ITEM 3: A U 500 

Please sign up for A U 500 if you have not done so already. The course is on Friday’s 10-11:45 am and is part of the College Corps requirements. 

ACTION ITEM 4: UPD and Live Scan Information  

We have received feedback from 3rd party vendors about issues with the Live Scan documents. We understand that some people are not in SF during this time. However, we are requiring that your Live Scans be completed onsite, at SFSU UPD. This must be completed by Aug. 19th . Background checks can take up to 3-4 weeks sometimes, so it’s a priority to have this handled sooner than later, to begin working at your host site. Please email us if you have already completed your Live Scan at a 3rd party vendor. If you have not gotten a Livescan please make an appointment as soon as possible and reach out to Meagan and Joshua confirming you have made an appointment.  

Moving forward we will only be using UPD, on campus. 

ACTION ITEM 5: America Learns Certification 

Please complete the America Learns Certification if you have not done so already. Below is the link provided and a snapshot of how to access the certification process. Please click the “Impact Suite Log In” and it will take you to your America Learns log in. After signing in you will be directed to the America Learns certification. 

https://impact.getlearnworlds.com/  

*It takes America learns at least a week to assign you the certification course. If you are a new student and have just been added then you will have to wait till America Learns assigns you the course. *  

August 4, 2023

ACTION ITEM 1: Post interview survey with Community Partners

Congratulations on finishing your interview process. By now, most of you should have finished interviewing with your community host partners. Please complete this survey below so we can place you at your host site by Monday, August 7^th.  If you are unable to provide this feedback by Monday, we will decide your placement with a community partner based on availability, and number of applications. 

https://forms.gle/VzpXbEkjhWRU1duS9

Note: If you have not scheduled an interview with the assigned host site, please do not fill out the survey and reach out to College Corps staff so we can further assist you and help with this process.

ACTION ITEM 2: UPD and Live Scan Information

We have received feedback from 3^rd party vendors about issues with the live scan documents. We understand that some people are not in SF during this time. However, we are requiring that your Live Scans be completed onsite, at SFSU UPD. This must be completed by Aug. 19^th . Background checks can take up to 3-4 weeks sometimes, so it’s a priority to have this handled sooner than later, to begin working at your host site. Please email us if you have already completed your Live Scan at a 3^rd party vendor.

Moving forward we will only be using UPD, on campus.

ACTION ITEM 3: America Learns Certification

Please complete the America Learns Certification if you have not done so already. Below is the link provided and a snapshot of how to access the certification process. Please click the “Impact Suite Log In” and it will take you to your America Learns log in. After signing in you will be directed to the America Learns certification.

https://impact.getlearnworlds.com/

ACTION ITEM 4: Deadline to Drop out of College Corps

We received a lot of great applications and we take great care to consider each applicant as well as the overall cohort. We were faced with tough decisions each year in our selection process! We have created a waitlist for students and to give them enough time to onboard. We are requesting that the last day to drop out of College Corps is August 11^th. Please contact the College Corps staff Meagan and Joshua if you wish to drop out or have any questions or concerns about being able to stay through this program.

July 28, 2023

New Action Items  

ACTION ITEM 1: Post-interview survey with Community Partners 

Please fill out this Google form once your interviews are complete. This would be the last step before you are placed with a community host partner. Congratulations on finishing the interview process! 

https://forms.gle/VzpXbEkjhWRU1duS9  

ACTION ITEM 2: Responding to Community Host Partners  

If you have been assigned a community host partner to interview, and you do not want to work with them you must communicate via email with them that you will not be showing up for the scheduled interview. We want to respect our Community Host Partners' time, as well as yours. 

Ongoing Action Items 

ACTION ITEM 1: Onboarding: Complete Background Check 

* Not Required for Returning Fellows* 

Thank you for those who have already completed this step. As a friendly reminder, at the end of your appointment, the Live Scan technician will hand you a copy of the completed Request for LiveScan Service form (they will fill out the bottom section of the form).  

ACTION ITEM 2: Provide a Copy of your Live Scan report to the College Corps team 

* Not Required for Returning Fellows & AB540 Fellows* 

You will need to provide a copy to collegecorps@sfsu.edu This can be a scanned copy or a very clear picture from your phone.  We need this information to set up your My America Learns account. 

ACTION ITEM 3: Scheduling Interviews with Community Host Partners 

Please take a look at the Professionalism 101 Document before you send out emails to the community partners. This is an added resource as your introduction to community partners. Our community partners are very busy and receive numerous emails throughout the day, so it is important to let them know the following when reaching out: 

1. Email the community partners with your SFSU email  

2. In your email subject line, list your Name, and position title applying to, as well as stating (SFSU College Corps). 

3. Refer to the College Corps Professional 101 Document – located as an attachment in this email. 

4. Please reach out to collegecorps@sfsu.edu if you have not been able to reach your community host partner to follow up about scheduling an interview.  

ACTION ITEM 4: Keep a look out in your email for your invitation to create your myAmericorps account.  

Once you have submitted a snapshot of your Live Scan completion, you will receive an invitation from My AmeriCorps. It is important that you input your profile by August 3, 2023.  
(Similar to America Learns) 

We want you to have a very successful internship/fellowship experience. It’s important to make a good impression with your potential host site placements since you’ll be working with them for the entire academic year. 

Keep this in mind when sending out emails, and best of luck with your interviews! 

July 21, 2023

Hi Fellows, Over the past couple weeks you should have received some emails from Meagan or myself about scheduling interviews with our community host partners. We are reaching out to provide additional resources as well as follow-up action items. 

ACTION ITEM 1: Onboarding: Complete Background Check 

Thank you to those who have already completed this step.  

As a friendly reminder, at the end of your appointment, the Live Scan technician will hand you a copy of the completed Request for LiveScan Service form (they will fill out the bottom section of the form).  

ACTION ITEM 2: Provide a Copy of your Live Scan report to College Corps team 

You will need to provide a copy in its entirety to collegecorps@sfsu.edu This can be a scanned copy or a very clear picture from your phone. 

ACTION ITEM 3: Scheduling Interviews with Community Host Partners 

Please take a look at the Professionalism 101 Document before you send out emails to the community partners. This is an added resource as your introduction to community partners. Our community partners are very busy and receive numerous emails throughout the day, so it is important to let them know the following when reaching out: 

1. Email the community partners with your SFSU email  

2. In your email subject line, list your Name, and position title applying to, as well as stating (SFSU College Corps). 

3. Refer to the College Corps Professional 101 Document – located as an attachment in this email. 

4. Please reach out to collegecorps@sfsu.edu if you have not been able to reach your community host partner to follow up about scheduling an interview.  

ACTION ITEM 4: Keep a look out in your email for your invitation to create your myAmericorps account.  

Once you have submitted a snapshot of your Live Scan completion, you will receive an invitation from My AmeriCorps. It is important that you input your profile by August 3, 2023.  
(Similar to America Learns) 

We want you to have a very successful internship/fellowship experience. It’s important to make a good impression with your potential host site placements since you’ll be working with them for the entire academic year. 

Keep this in mind when sending out emails, and best of luck with your interviews! 

Best,  

Meagan and Joshua