Penn State Altoona to host AmeriCorps conference

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - 724 hits

Penn State Altoona’s Center for Community-Based Studies (CCBS), in collaboration with Saint Francis University, will host the 2012 annual Scholars in Service to PA (SISPA) Campus Administrators Summer Institute, July 17-18. The two-day conference will be held at the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence in downtown Altoona. More than fifty personnel from across the Commonwealth will attend the Institute.

SISPA is an AmeriCorps Education Award program administered by the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development and managed through local colleges and universities. Student-scholars receive education awards upwards of $1,000 for participation in approved community-based projects. The awards can be used for any legitimate educational expense or to pay for future educational expenses, as well as to re-pay student loans. Penn State Altoona will support ten Scholars for the 2012-2013 academic year.

CCBS is a developing, multi-disciplinary initiative at Penn State Altoona that encourages and supports engagement between the College and surrounding communities. The Center promotes discussion among community representatives, faculty members, and students; facilitates academically-grounded, real world learning opportunities in off-campus settings for students; and offers resources to support curriculum-connected community engagement.