"give a year" Partnership with City Year Establishes Scholarships

Submitted by Pat Williams-Boyd | Published November 5, 2012

UPDATE: EMU's partnership with City Year ended on May 1, 2014.

Eastern Michigan University is the first higher education institution in Michigan to be a "give a year" Partner with City Year, an education-focused nonprofit organization.

Eastern's College of Education is one of the nation's premier education schools. Through this partnership, every year Eastern will give two City Year corps members, alumni, or staff - who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree - a scholarship that offers a 25 percent reduction in tuition per year, for every year they are in school.

Founded in Boston in 1988, City Year partners with public schools and teachers to help keep students in school and on track to succeed. In 24 communities across the United States and through two international affiliates, City Year brings together teams of young AmeriCorps members who commit to a year of full-time service in schools. Corps members provide individual support to students who need extra care and attention, focusing on attendance, behavior, and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring, and after school programs.

This year, City Year's 2,500 young leaders, who are 17 to 24 years old, will serve in 238 schools across the country to:

  • Tutor, mentor and serve as role models to help children and schools succeed.
  • Lead before and after school programs to extend learning time and reinforce in-class instruction.
  • Engage students of all ages in community service and leadership development activities.
  • Plan and lead transformational service projects in schools and other community spaces.

During the 2012-2013 school year, more than 100 City Year corps members are supporting 2,000 students in 11 Metro Detroit schools.

For more information, or to apply to be a City Year corps member, or to refer a strong candidate you know who wants to make a difference in the lives of students, visit City Year's site.