PCP 2021 Rankings | News 2021

Publication of the 2021 rankings of the Peace Corps Prep

USF is the # 1 Peace Corps Readiness Partner in Florida and # 2 in the nation

September 30, 2021 (Washington, DC) – The Peace Corps announced today that the University of South Florida (USF) is the second school on the agency’s list of Best Peace Corps Prep Certification Partners in 2021. USF issued 58 Peace Corps Prep certificates to the class of 2021 There were 250 students enrolled in the USF Peace Corps Prep program in the 2020-21 academic year.

“At this pivotal time in our history, young people have a crucial role to play,” said Carol Spahn, Acting Director of the Peace Corps. “Through the Peace Corps Prep program, these schools have equipped students with the skills and understanding to help communities near and far recover from the multidimensional and global shocks of the pandemic.”

Established in 2007, Peace Corps Prep aims to respond to the demand for Peace Corps volunteers with broad and relevant areas of expertise and to support schools’ efforts to provide hands-on, global experiences to their students. Through the program, students learn leadership, intercultural skills, foreign languages ​​and a professional sector of their choice such as education, health or the environment. While having a Peace Corps Prep certificate does not guarantee acceptance into the international service agency, enrolling in the program helps them be more competitive during the selection process.

Peace Corps works with more than 150 partner institutions nationwide to deliver programming that emphasizes a commitment to global citizenship, intercultural skills and a sense of service among students. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing a global evacuation of Peace Corps volunteers, more than 700 undergraduate students completed the Peace Corps Prep program during the 2020-2021 academic year.

“Peace Corps Prep is an opportunity for all undergraduates to develop skills that will strengthen their aspirations to serve overseas,” said La’Teashia Sykes, director of academic programs for the Peace Corps. “Congratulations to the top ten schools issuing Peace Corps Readiness Certificates and a special thank you to all of our partner institutions for cultivating student interest in Peace Corps service.”

More than 500 University of South Florida graduates have served with the Peace Corps, and the university is consistently recognized as one of the top colleges producing volunteers for the Peace Corps. The university’s mission includes a deep commitment to addressing the greatest challenges facing communities at local, national and global levels through impactful research and a dedication to student learning that prioritizes cross-cultural awareness. and global literacy. The Peace Corps Prep program aligns with the university’s strategic goals and its efforts to provide students with high-quality global experiences.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as one of the top 10 Peace Corps Readiness Certificate issuing institutions in the country. At USF, the Peace Corps Prep program is aligned with the Global Citizens Project, a university-wide initiative to prepare our undergraduates for success in today’s interconnected world. Global citizenship is fundamental to college and campus life at USF, ”said Kiki Caruson, Ph.D., acting vice president of USF World at the University of South Florida.

For more information on the Peace Corps Prep program at the University of South Florida, contact Lauren Strange at [email protected] or (813) 974-6148.

About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends Americans who are passionate about serving overseas on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to meet challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and lifelong commitment to service that positions them for success in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries around the world. For more information visit corpsdelapaix.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.